Sexuality in Media: Emerging Issues in Africa - Africa Regional ...

Sexuality in the Media: Emerging Issues in Africa
health 6.5%, and, HIV/AIDS constituted 6.8% (Table 3).
Sexuality Issues Reported: An In-depth Analysis
Sexual Dysfunctions and Impotence
In this regard, the articles, although few concentrated mainly on issues related
to sexual dysfunctions and impotence. For instance in one newspaper, two
articles were published on how to improve sexuality of men either through
new drugs or herbs (Al-Ahrar, 19-5-2004). Another article affirmed that
“Viagra cost the world 2 billion dollars, last year and a new drug, stronger than
Viagra called 'C Allis' will be available and it will cost the world about 3
billion US$ next year” (EL-Wafd, 6-2-2004). A warning that fertility of men is
in danger was published quoting from NBC website and suggested that during
the period between 1998-2002, the sperm count was reduced by 29% (Al-
Gomhorrea, 14-2-2004). In the same issue, the newspaper gave an attractive
title :”Return of fertility to men is possible”. However, the content of the
article was about the result of a study on the return of fertility after surgical
voluntary sterilization (Al-Gomhorrea, 14-2-2004). The article was quoting
an European expert in the field who suggests a success rate of 95% if the
surgery was done after 3 years of the sterilization operation.
Smoking and sexuality was addressed several times in the newspapers. For
instance, an article quoting an English study suggests that “120,000 British
citizens aged between 30 and 50 have sexual problems because of smoking”
(Al-Wafd, 13-2-2004). It is noticed, as in this article, that in many instances, no
full reference is given. However, Al-Ahrar, on 10-5-2004, quoted a study
from a university in Canada suggesting that “sport can improve the immune
system, and reduce the cholesterol level in blood and improve sexual
performance”. However, the title was “Sport is better than Viagra for old
people”.
It seems that impotence and ways to improve sexual performance of men were
attractive topics for newspapers. Drugs invented after Viagra and their
effectiveness were reported in an article quoting an Egyptian expert in Al-
Ahrar 24-3-2004. In this article two drugs were mentioned with their
effectiveness. The same page (Page 4), features a quote from experts at a
California University, in the USA and a comment from an Egyptian Expert
suggesting that, “lack of love and affection between spouses damages the
Print Media Coverage Of Sexuality Issues in Egypt
immune system”. On the other hand, the same newspaper on 19-5-2004
published an article titled “Immune system is affected by exaggeration of
sexual activities”. However, the component about sex constitutes just a
fraction of the body of the article. The main interest of the article was the
factors that influence functioning of immune system and how to improve it.
Al-Ahrar 23-3-2004, indicated that Police found aphrodisiac drugs without a
known origin. They arrested five.
Al-Akhbar, 29-3-2004 quoted American news agents, the title was “American
Viagra for women also”. This drug, as the newspaper suggested, overcome the
problems associated with the hormonal replacement therapy.
Al-Ahram, 1-3-2004, quoted the company that produced Viagra, affirming
that their experiments on Viagra for 8 year concluded that it does not increase
sexual excitation of women. Another Article on 30-3-2004 suggested that the
Media exaggerates the benefits of Viagra, and quoted a study from England on
40 men who suffer from impotence. For some of them, the drug was safe and
effective, and for some it was not effective and this resulted in depression
because they had put a lot of hopes on the impact of Viagra and it was not
successful. It is important to note that the title of the Article was: “Viagra
causes depression among many of the users” (El-Messaa, 30-3-2004).
News about the Arab Conference on Sexual Health was disseminated on 25-2-
2004. The themes of the conference as the newspaper pointed out were: What
is new in diagnosis and treatment of impotence? Ethical issues in the
management of impotence, and protection of patients rights.
The Arab Conference on Sexual Health was covered heavily by the
newspapers. Al-Ahrar on 3-3-2004, page 4 gave highlights from the
conference and the recommendations. It affirmed that the treatment for
impotence is available and safe. Oral treatment is effective in more than 80%
of the cases, the remaining 20% have different modalities. The article quoted
the conference as saying that regular sexual intercourse improves general
health. Avoiding bad habits like smoking and alcohol and high fat foods
improve sexual health. The article indicated that 152 million men are suffering
from impotence, however, only 10% of them consult to health providers. The
participants at the conference rejected the attempts to eradicate male
circumcision on the basis that it is mutilation of the children. The conference