Comparison of the Coverage of STIs and HIV and AIDS by the Daily Nation and Sunday Nation Newspapers in Kenya from July 2002 to June 2004

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to establish the amount and type of coverage of STIS vis-à-vis HIV and AIDS as distinct and dual issues in STI awareness as published by the Nation newspaper from July 2002 to June 2004. The research method used was content analysis. This was the most appropriate method since the researcher was interested in newspaper content. The study examined newspaper content in the Daily Nation and Sunday Nation. A total of 731 daily and Sunday editions were analysed. The unit of analysis was the article. Data was drawn using nine categories. A total of 648 cases were observed of which 624 covered HIV and AIDS and 24 covered STIs. The study revealed that HIV and AIDS is a major press interest manifested more in terms of frequency of occurrence. Conversely, limited coverage of STIs exposed an information gap. A key finding was that STIs were mostly framed as part of HIV and AIDS articles. Both topics were not as prominently covered in terms of presentation as most were short, with no visuals and placed in the inside pages. Likewise, both topics were mostly framed as social issues with STIs also largely as medical concerns. It was established that a majority of articles were locally generated. It was also observed that the media was mostly interested in issues concerning the general public and that the majority of coverage was in form of straight news. The study recommends that the media augment STI coverage in genera by carrying more specialized articles and features. The study also recommends more integration of information on STIs with HIV and AIDS articles to raise their dissemination value as well as enhance overal communication on the prevention and management of STIs and HIV and AIDS.