CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

There is no doubt that the greatest health problem

threatening the human race in contemporary times is the

HIV/AIDS pandemic. Nigeria has been one of the countries hardest

hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, with approximately 5.5 million

Nigerian adults and children living with HIV/AIDS at the end of

2005. Nigeria’s mainstream print and broadcast media have

attained a central role in shaping the discourse about HIV/AIDS as

a result of their elevated role in politics after the military era.

Studies of media coverage of HIV/AIDS, however, have shown that

despite the horrific impact of AIDS in Nigeria, until recently

national media coverage (both the extent as well as the content)--

with few exceptions--does not reflect the urgency of the crisis.

Coverage of AIDS disproportionately deflects to the emotional,

social, economic and political battles and blunders that have

accompanied the disease's spread.

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM

AIDS in Nigeria has drawn considerable public debate and

media attention, not only because of its high rates of infection but
also as a result of the Nigerian government's response to the

crisis and the pivotal role played by Nigerian AIDS activists.

Central to these debates have been efforts by various actors to

frame the epidemic and society's response to it in particular

ways. The media, AIDS social movement organizations

(particularly the NACA), and the states have been key actors in

this regard.

AIDS is the acronym made for the Acquired immune

deficiency syndrome. It is a killer disease, which attacks a person

when his body can no longer fight any disease that invades him. It

is caused by a germ called Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV).

When this germ penetrates the blood, it weakens or destroys the

body’s ability to fight other diseases. This results in the person

falling sick or ill, becoming very thin and eventually dying after

sometime. HIV epidemic in Nigeria has since extended beyond the

high risk groups to the general population. Some parts of the

country are worst affected than others but no state community is

unaffected. For example, the prevalence of HIV among antenatal

clinic clients after the 2005 sentinel survey was found to be 4.4%

it was 1.9% in 1991, 4.5% in 1996, and 5.8% in 2001. All the
states of Nigeria have a generalized epidemic among pregnant

women. The epidemic in the country can be described as

heterogeneous with various communities in different stages,

some declining while others are still rising.

From the result of the 2003 survey, it was estimated that 3.5

million people were living with HIV/AIDS in the country. AIDS

cases are becoming more visible in communities. Although AIDS

case reporting has been characterized by under – recognition,

under –reporting and delayed reporting, the number of reported

cases has been on the increase especially since 1996

The discovery of HIV, the causative organ of AIDS in the

1940’s by the center of disease control in the United States of

America, USA remains the turning point in the global response to

the scourge and extension, other sexually transmitted disease

which can be precursor for AIDS in man, (Moore et al, 1995). The

fatal complications of Hiv/Aids is distressing, delibilitating and at

times killing, thus justifies the enormity of the investment in

awareness that can reduce these diseases.

The very first official report on AIDS appeared in June 1981

and no one could have imagined the scale of the epidemic ever
and the extent the scourge will abate. The AIDS crises have been

made more frightening because there is no known cure for the

disease that has claimed so many lives. And to this regard

therefore, Nigeria is not immune to the devastating effect of the

most dreaded disease of our time. When categorized, Nigeria now

ranks among the most infected nations of the world and

particularly in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, where she parades

large population as the largest Black Country in the world.

There is no doubt that the greatest health problem

threatening the human race in contemporary times is the

HIV/AIDS pandemic. The greatest burden of this scourge is in sub-

Sahara Africa. Located in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is the most

populous nation in Africa with an estimated population of over

140 million people (Nigerian Census, 2006). The epidemic is said

to be fuelled in the country largely by poverty, lack of awareness,

dense commercial sex networks, early age of sexual activity, poor

gender empowerment, with religion and culture obstructing open

debate about sexuality. The biggest challenge however, impeding

progress of Nigeria's intervention effort, is stigmatization (Nigeria

HIV Info, 2006).

 The fear of this incurable disease has been the public
discrimination against people living with Aids (PLWA) and the
broadcast media is playing an immeasurable role in attempts
made to control or curb the spreads of this increasing level of
ignorance of stigmatization and discrimination against PLWA.
These roles indicates, creating awareness among the public that
Hiv/Aids exist; informing people about how it is contracted and
controlled; enlightening people about how to avoid getting Hiv
infection (through circumcision, traditional practices, tattooing,
ear piercing) and watchers make information available to other
members of the society and also interpret events in every
discrimination and stigmatization against PLWA. AIDS-related
stigmatization refers to the prejudice and discrimination directed
at people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and the groups and
communities that they are associated with. It can result in people
living with HIV/AIDS being rejected from their community,
shunned, discriminated against or even physically hurt.

AIDS stigmatization and discrimination have been seen all

over the world, although they manifest themselves differently

between countries, communities, religious groups and individuals.

They are often seen alongside other forms of stigmatization and

discrimination, such as racism, homophobia or misogyny and can

be associated with behaviors often considered socially

unacceptable such as prostitution or drug use. Discrimination

could be: Direct discrimination which occurs when a person is

treated less favorably than another in a comparable situation

because of their racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability,

age or sexual orientation, or Indirect discrimination which occurs

when an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice would

disadvantage people on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin,

religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation unless the

practice can be objectively justified by a legitimate aim.

Stigmatization directed at PLWHA not only makes it more difficult

for people trying to come to terms with and manage their illness

on a personal level, but it also interferes with attempts to fight

the AIDS epidemic as a whole. On a national level, the

Stigmatization associated with HIV can deter governments from

taking fast, effective action against the epidemic, whilst on a

personal level it can make individuals reluctant to access HIV

testing, treatment and care.

Through the broadcast media, people learn how to treat

Hiv/Aids patients or victims, when to go for test, how to cope with

its victims and their embarrassment without stigmatizing them.

The mass media are able to play the role of disseminators of

information about Hiv/Aids because of their traditional functions in

the society. According to Lass well (2001), the functions of the

media include: surveillance of the environment, correlation of the

parts of environment and the transmission of social or cultural

heritage. He further likened the functions of the media to that of

watchers, forum and teacher. This means that in doing this, the

media survey the environment and society and report about

threats and dangers as well as the opportunities available.

Broadcasting however is the distribution of audio and video

signals which transmit programs to an audience. The audience

may be the general public or a relatively large sub-audience such

as children or young adults. The term “broadcast” originally

referred to the sowing of seeds by scattering them over a wide

field. Broadcasting forms a very large segment of the mass

media. Stigmatization and discrimination against people living

with aids is common placed in Nigeria. Both Christians and Muslim

see immoral behaviour as being the cause of Hiv/Aids epidemics.

This affects attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS

(PLWHA) and HIV prevention. PLWHA often loose their jobs or are

denied health care services because of the ignorance and fear

about the disease they carry. There is so much ignorance about

HIV/AIDS that 60% of healthcare workers think HIV positive

patients should be isolated from other patients, (George, 2003)

There is a general agreement both among scholars,

journalists and editors as well as political actors that the media

play a central role in interest articulation and deliberation in

democratic society; in particular "how ideas emerge, diffuse, and

affect policy." [De Wet, 2004) Some scholars have identified this

process as "mediated deliberation." [Geffen, 2006] According to

this view, "professional communicators" are at the heart of

deliberation. These professional communicators are identified as

journalists and reporters, writers, commentators, and television

pundits, as well as public officials and selected experts from

academia, think tanks, and civil society organizations. They "...

not only help policy experts communicate with each other, but

also assemble, explain, debate, and disseminate the best

available information and ideas about public policy, in ways that

are accessible to large audiences." [Magkoba, 2001]

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

 With an eye toward improving the health care environment

for PLWHA, organizers focused on positioning themselves as

partners with the health care staff rather than as critics of them.

It is believed that broadcast media working collaboratively can

greatly increase both the quantity and quality of HIV/AIDS

information available to people living in the most seriously

affected regions of the world. Prior to the implementation of the

programme, formative research was conducted to understand the

causes and manifestations of stigmatization and discrimination in

each particular setting.

Stigmatization remains the single most important barrier to

public action. It is the main reason why too many people are
afraid to see a doctor to determine whether they have the
disease, or to seek treatment if so. It helps make AIDS the silent
killer, because people fear the social disgrace of speaking about
it, or taking easily available precautions. Stigmatization is the
chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate
societies around the world. Fear of contagion coupled with
negative, value-based assumptions about people who are infected
leads to high levels of stigmatization surrounding HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS is a life-threatening disease. HIV infection is

associated with behaviours (such as homosexuality, drug
addiction, prostitution or promiscuity) that are already
stigmatized in many societies. Most people become infected with
HIV through sex. Sexually transmitted diseases are always highly
stigmatized. There is a lot of inaccurate information about how
HIV is transmitted. HIV infection is often thought to be the result
of personal irresponsibility. Religious or moral beliefs lead some
people to believe that being infected with HIV is the result of
moral fault (such as promiscuity or 'deviant sex') that deserves to
be punished.

The fact that HIV/AIDS is a relatively new disease also

contributes to the Stigmatization attached to it. The fear
surrounding the emerging epidemic in the 1980’s is still fresh in
many people’s minds. At that time very little was known about
the transmissibility of the virus, which made people scared of
those infected due to fear of contagion.

Against the background of increasing rate of HIV infection in

Nigeria, this study attempted to find out the role of the broadcast

media and how it manages aids related stigmatization and

discrimination in Nigeria. This was done in term of perceived role

of mass media in social control, its effectiveness in performing

such and how much it as been able to disseminate enough

information on HIV/AIDS stigmatization.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

 The aim of this study is to find out the role of the broadcast

media against stigmatization and discrimination of PLWHA and

peoples exposure patterns to information about HIV/AIDS. This

means that the study will reveal the forms of media that the

public are exposed to HIV/AIDS messages the most. This study

will reveal how effective the media has been in disseminating

information about aids discrimination. In other words, the study

seeks to know how the media have informed, interpreted and

communicated information to the public about HIV/AIDS

discrimination and stigmatization. Acquaint media persons with

the world of People living with HIV/AIDS. Focus attention on policy

will sensitize readers and audiences to People Living with

HIV/AIDS as well as contribute to de-stigmatizing HIV/AIDS or the

discrimination of PLWHA.

1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The focus of this study will be limited to the broadcast media

(radio and T.V). However, this paper analyzes the place of the

media in AIDS policy discourse and activism in Nigeria. It

discusses the relationship between the news media, and the

state as a space of interest articulation and deliberation, and in

mediating social debate in the public sphere. It is argued that the

discourses in the Nigeria media around HIV/AIDS have limited the

type of information that is presented to the public as a whole, as

well as put constraints on the kinds of democratic debate taking

place over an effective societal response to HIV and AIDS.

Nigerian media, especially the country's mainstream and

print media have attained a central role in shaping the discourse

about HIV/AIDS as a result of their elevated role in politics after

independence. Studies of media coverage of HIV/AIDS, however,

have shown that despite the horrific impact of AIDS in Nigeria,

until recently national media coverage (both the extent as well as

the content)--with few exceptions--does not reflect the urgency of

the crisis. Instead, media coverage focuses primarily on conflicts

around HIV/AIDS policy.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In the course of this research, the following questions were

proposed:
  What is the level of awareness of Radio and TV

enlightenment on HIV/AIDS stigmatization?

 Has the Radio and T.V awareness changed the public

attitude towards people living with Hiv/Aids?

 What is the medium of broadcast media used most by

the public to obtain information on Hiv/Aids

stigmatization?

 What is the frequency of exposure of the public to

HIV/AIDS messages about stigmatization and

discrimination?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Deciding whether the broadcast media are passing

information against discrimination and stigmatization towards

people living with Hiv/Aids has been a serious problem for the

media organization, the government and the public who view

them. The public needs to be enlightened especially the youths

about HIV/AIDS stigmatization and discrimination.

This research work will help the public broaden their

knowledge on this pressing problem in our society. For the media

organization, it will make them assess the level of content and

output to the audience. This study will add significance to

knowledge available in the field of communication research. It

shall highlight and discuss salient issues involved in the role of

the broadcast media in HIV/AIDS stigmatization and

discrimination. It will enable the public, state administrators, non-

governmental organization (NGOs), health officials and other

change agents to understand their level of exposure about

stigmatization and discrimination of PLWHA. It will further

encourage the appreciation of the mass media as a vent able tool

for informing, educating and communicating social change

messages to the relevant public. The initiative involved the

development and dissemination of printed guidelines for HIV care

and management, sensitivity training of health workers about the

needs and rights of people with HIV, expansion and strengthening

of HIV testing and counseling services, and development and

dissemination of educational material (posters).

1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS

EXPOSURE

In this study, exposure refers to how the audience receive

mass media information.

 AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is as incurable killer

disease which causes inability of the defense system of a body to

fight diseases.

HIV

Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus is a germ which causes

AIDS. When it enters the body, it weakens or destroys the body’s

ability to fight other diseases.

STIGIMATIZATION

This refers to the characterization or branding of an

individual as being harmful to others. It includes judgmental

behavior and human action or activities aimed towards sidelining

a person or group of persons as being able to contaminate others.

Stigmatization can lead to unfair treatment of a person or group

based on the basis of prejudice.

DISCRIMINATION

It is the treatment or consideration of, or making a

distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the

group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs

rather than on individual merit.

 BROADCAST MEDIA

The term 'broadcast media' covers a wide spectrum of

different communication methods such as television, radio,

newspapers, magazines and any other materials supplied by the

media and press. The broadcasting media supplies lots of

valuable information, for example speeches, documentaries,

interviews, advertisements, daily news, financial markets and

much more.