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

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Sexuality in the Media: Emerging Issues in Africa reproductive health, 10% with sexual harassment, 6% with female genital mutilation and 6% with relationships disappointments. The Comet, like The Guardian by the choice of articles shows a deeper concern for sexual health. This concern has much to do with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Issues of S/SH/SR could be found in all sections of the paper except the lead positions . Popular columns were: • Health • Focus • Down the Aisle • Woman • NGO's • Opinion • Comment • Children • Elements and Styles • News • Weekly news around the world • Foreign News General Comments on the Quality of Publications The majority of the articles were news items and reports. They provided qualitative knowledge based information. They were educative and enlightening. Though open and liberal, they were embedded in the traditional norms, which tend to moralise and sometimes criminalise issues of S/SH/SR. It does not seem that lack of knowledge affected the publications. These publications and choice of stories was influenced largely by what the Editorial Boards thought was important at the time. Reader's letters and enquiries concerning issues of S/SH/SR show that there is a desire to know more about these issues. That the majority of the reports focused on issues concerning HIV/AIDS reflect a neglect of other equally important issues of sexuality, sexual health and sexual rights. The lack of reports on sexual rights portrays the lack of awareness about this important issue. Analysis Of Issues Of S/SH/SR Published HIV/AIDS Table 5: Frequency of Newspaper Reports on HIV/AIDS Themes Reported The Sun The Vanguard The Guardian The Punch The Comet No. Of Times % Print Media Coverage Of Sexuality Issues in Nigeria No. Of Times % Newspapers No. Of Times No. Of No. Of % % % Times Times HIV/AIDS 9 8% 5 6% 31 45% 4 7% 16 31% The publications on issues of S/SH/SR reflected the wider concerns about the prevailing and threatening health problem of the day i.e. HIV/AIDS which received the widest coverage. The Guardian reported on this issue 31 times (45%) and The Comet 16 times (31%). These were the highest number of reports on this issue. News items and reports were written to enlighten the populace on the disease and the dangers of the disease. The aetiology of the disease, the symptoms, available treatment, the modes of infection and the methods of prevention of the disease were common in the reports (Guardian, 10.3.04: p10; 22.3.04: p65; Comet, 17.2.04: p28; 23.2.2004: p32). Some of the reports quoted figures of the number of people living with the disease and it was described as a time bomb in Nigeria (Vanguard, 14.1.04: Midweek Features). It was also reported that about 7.3 million young women are living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (Vanguard. 6.6.04: 4). Most of the news reports were about the campaigns carried out by different groups including government, institutions, religious organizations and nongovernmental organisations, to stem the spread of the disease. Since the disease is spread mostly through sexual intercourse among others, the sexual culture of Nigerians which encourages multiple sex partners was always called to question and condemned as the cause of the rapid spread of the disease. Nigerians were called upon to reduce their sexual escapades,remain faithful to their partners and be sexually responsible (Guardian, 25.04.2004: p32). Youths were warned in many instances about the dangers of engaging in indiscriminate sex. Sexual abstinence was always given as the most important means of escaping the disease and ensuring a healthy future (Guardian, 3.5.04: p4; Punch,
Sexuality in the Media: Emerging Issues in Africa 15.5.2004: p16-17). Condom use was also advocated as a means of prevention. Though it is generally agreed that there is no cure for the disease, the use of immunity boosters was reported as being capable of delaying the development of full blown AIDS. Coconut according to the view of experts was identified as containing properties which could help to boost immunity of those living with HIV/AIDS (Guardian, 4.1.04:p24). There were reports on research progress to find a cure for the disease (Comet, 12.2.04:p17; Vanguard, 4.2.04: Health Column). Articles also warned of the activities of quacks who claim to have found a cure or remedy for the disease and who may even cause infections of new HIV strains (Guardian, 2.1.04: p6). Due to the emphasis on sex as the major means of transmission many newspapers gave scanty information on the other means of transmission. These other means of transmission which have most times been neglected in the campaigns have been found to be very volatile especially among the youths. The media should be able to expose and discuss other possible means of the spread of HIV/AIDS other than sexual intercourse so as to make people more aware and careful. Now and then, there were articles discussing the dilemma, stigma and the general problems of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The dilemma stemmed from members of the society and sometimes medical personnel who due to the fear of the disease did not know exactly how to engage with PLWHA. Also discussed was the dilemma of some who were afraid to make known their sero-status due to the fear of losing their jobs and for fear of stigmatization. The reports show that there is discrimination against PLWHA. (Guardian, 4.3.04: 26). Calls were made for better understanding, treatment and care of PLWHA. The articles were enlightening and progressive and written from knowledge based information. Nevertheless, since HIV/AIDS is associated with sexual intercourse, there was always a high moralistic tone behind the write ups. It would seem that PLWHA were seen as responsible for their condition which they rightly deserved due to their inordinate sexual behaviours. Sometimes fears were expressed that they might intentionally spread the disease. HIV/AIDS and Other Health Issues Articles on HIV/AIDS were sometimes connected to other health conditions such as tuberculosis, STDs, emaciation, diarrhoea, skin infections and dementia which the patient might develop due to weakened immunity. This was well exemplified in the article titled “Nobody dies of AIDS” (Guardian, 26.6.04: p25) which discussed the opportunistic illnesses that could develop due to HIV/AIDS. It was also linked to depression and insomnia which the patient or members of their families might develop due to their worries over the fatality of the disease. It was also connected to the cost of medical care. Now and then, calls were made to give the retroviral drugs free. Sexual Violence Table 6: Frequency of Newspaper Reports on Sexual Violence Themes Reported The Sun The Vanguard The Guardian The Punch The Comet No. Of Times % Print Media Coverage Of Sexuality Issues in Nigeria No. Of Times % Newspapers No. Of Times No. Of No. Of % % % Times Times Sexual Violence 14 13% 4 5% 1 1% 1 2% 3 6% Sexual violence was a recurrent issue in the reports on S/SH/SR. 13% of The Sun's publication on S/SH/SR focused on sexual violence-mostly rape and sometimes gang rape. The Sun thus gave this issue the highest coverage. The perpetrators included stepfathers, stepbrothers, students, football stars, armed robbers, policemen, and sometimes women. Though the victims were mostly female there were reports of women rapists (Vanguard, 2.5.04: p26)! There was even a story of a man who rapes corpses (Sun, 11.4.04: p13)! None of the reports mentioned whether the rapists were tried or punished. Indeed one case of rape was supposed to have taken place in a police barracks and another case committed by a policeman. Under sexual violence were cases of wife battery emanating from sexual denial or suspected adultery.
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