Media Analysis on Health issues in the print media in the month of June- (1st June to 30th June 2010)
Introduction
For the period 1st June – 30th June 2010, 58 press cuttings were undertaken. This is in a bid to bring to light health and lifestyle issues that the media has touched on, and further to be able to assess pertinent health issues so as to bring forth possible solutions. The print media concerned are The Daily Graphic, Times and Mirror.
Media Analysis
With 58 press cuttings, below are the breakdown and corresponding percentages for the month:
Gyaenacology and obstetrics -10(17.24%), Mental health- 8(13.79%), Tobacco- 5(8.62%), Malaria- 4(6.89%), Cancers- 3(5.17%), Sickle Cell- 2(3.45%), Circumcision- 1(1.72%), Lifestyle- 2(3.45%), Chronic pain-1(1.72%), ENT- 1(1.72%), Accidents- 1(1.72%), TB-1(1.72%), Diabetes-1(1.72%), Measles-1(1.72%), H1N1- 2(3.45%), HIV- 2(3.45%), Food poisoning-1(1.72%), Nutrition- 2(3.45%), Contraceptives- 1(1.72%), Aphrodisiacs- 1(1.72%), NHIS- 1(1.72%), Cardio diseases- 1(1.72%), Medical Technology-1(1.72%), Buruli Ulcer- 1(1.72%), Upsurge of diseases in Mfantiman worry MCE- 1(1.72%), Miscellaneous- 3(5.17%).
Please refer to the table on page 3 for a tabular view of the above statistics.
Observations
From the above statistics, it was observed that health issues that were mostly highlighted are as follows;
Gynaecology and Obstetrics – 10 (17.24%)
Mental Health - 8(13.79%)
Tobacco - 5(8.62%)
Malaria - 4(6.89%)
New Developments
Monitoring the print media through out the period (1st June-30th June) the following new developments were realized;
• A new program called the mPedigree has been developed where one can know if a drug is genuine by texting the unique ID code of the drug.
• The first H1N1 death was recorded in this month with the victim being an 11 month old baby.
• It has been reported that foreign doctors are close to pinpointing the age when a woman will reach menopause by measuring levels of a hormone called AMN.
• In other countries, women at the age of 30 have been reported to be freezing their eggs whiles searching for Mr. Right.
• Fistula patients in the Upper West Region are to be registered freely with the NHIS under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty program (LEAP).
• A trial vagina ring has proven effective in Africa. The vagina ring contains Anti Retroviral(ARV) Drugs which protect women from HIV infection.
• In South Africa, HIV rate is reported to have reduced by 33% because AntiRetroviral drugs have been made widely available.
• Korle-bu Teaching Hospital has inaugurated for projects aimed at improving health care. Included in this was the refurbishment of the medical block with a DNA Laboratory which will facilitate DNA analysis to determine paternity and forensic investigation in criminal cases.
• It has been reported that Breast cancer vaccines have been developed by American
Scientists.
Summary
1. Within the month it can be stated that alcoholism (which was fitted into mental health) was relatively low as compared to past reports that were made.
2. Again, with the development of breast cancer vaccines for and the vagina ring which has proven to be effective shows how much priority is currently being placed on the female and maternal health which is important in every developing country. This is in relation to the obvious high statistic of number of times Gynaecology and Obstetrics was featured in the print media.
3. Also with the provision of a new DNA Laboratory at Korle-Bu it would now be easier and relatively affordable for Ghanaians to have DNA test without blood samples being sent to South Africa before results can be acquired.
Recommendations
It would be helpful on the part of the Health Ministry to make health communication more intensive and much simpler so as to reach every individual in the country. Health messages could be communicated to opinion leaders who can then with the aid of health professionals send down to the people at the grass root. That way the people can relate better with the information being handed down to them.
Finally, though the provision of the DNA Laboratory is a big improvement it would be much better when at least each region, if not all district is provided with one.
Item Health Issues Number Percentage
1 Gynaecology and obstetrics 10 17.24
2 Mental Health 8 13.79
3 Tobacco 5 8.62
4 Malaria 4 6.89
5 Cancers 3 5.17
6 Sickle Cell 2 3.45
7 Circumcision 1 1.72
8 Lifestyle 2 3.45
9 Chronic pain 1 1.72
10 ENT 1 1.72
11 Accidents 1 1.72
12 TB 1 1.72
13 Diabetes 1 1.72
14 Measles 1 1.72
15 H1N1 2 3.45
16 HIV 2 3.45
17 Food poisoning 1 1.72
18 Nutrition 2 3.45
19 Contraceptive 1 1.72
20 Aphrodisiac 1 1.72
21 NHIS 1 1.72
22 Cardio diseases 1 1.72
23 Medical Technology 1 1.72
24 Buruli Ulcer 1 1.72
25 Upsurge of diseases in 1 1.72
Mfantsiman worry MCE 1 1.72
26 Miscellaneous 3 5.17
