UgandaNewspaperPrintedVersion.pdf (225.51 kB)
Does health-related content in a major Ugandan newspaper reflect the changing burden of disease in East Africa?
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 05:34 authored by Maxwell CooperMaxwell Cooper, Rohit Aiyer, Sangeetha Sornalingam, David LawrenceDisease burden in urban sub-Saharan Africa is changing rapidly. Mortality and morbidity from chronic physical disease (e.g. heart, disease, stroke and cancer) is rising rapidly and believed to be as great as from infections (e.g. malaria, HIV and tuberculosis). Other increasing disease burdens in sub Saharan Africa include mental illness, substance abuse and accidents, especially road traffic collisions (RTC). Newspaper readership is rising in Uganda. This study used content analysis to examine health-related coverage in one major Ugandan newspaper (New Vision). 29 consecutive paper copies from September/October 2013 were examined independently by two researchers. Health-related articles were identified, counted and coded according to clinical content. Clinical and healthcare-related coverage was present in every edition and represented approximate proportions of 2.6% and 0.4% respectively of total newspaper content. Of 214 news articles identified, these covered the following clinical themes: general well-being (15.4%), healthcare services (14.5%), HIV (12.1%), violence/accidents (11.2%), chronic physical disease (11.2%), sexual, maternal and reproductive health (SMRH) (10.8%), non-HIV infective diseases (10.8), malnutrition (7.9%), substance misuse (3.3%) and mental health (2.8%). Coverage of RTCs, alcohol, smoking, and cancers other than of the breast and cervix was minimal. Health-related content was dominated by infections, healthcare quality, general wellbeing, SMRH and malnutrition. This does not represent the changing burden of disease in Uganda. There may be scope for targeted interventions with editors to promote coverage of growing challenges, including lifestyle advice to prevent chronic diseases.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
International Journal of Communication and HealthISSN
2359-8220Publisher URL
Volume
10Page range
44-52Department affiliated with
- Division of Medical Education Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2017-03-29First Open Access (FOA) Date
2017-04-27First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2017-03-29Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC