AKBC RADIO PROGRAMME AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN HIV/AIDS CAMPAIGN (A STUDY OF AIDS AND YOU)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDs) is the final, life-threatening stage of infection with any human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV-1), it many sub types or from person to sexually including via anal, oral and vaginal intercourse both hetero sexually, through contact with blood (mainly via equipment used to illicit drugs and rarely, via medical uses of blood) and parentally from mother to fetus or new born, during pregnancy labour and delivery, or after birth through breast feeding. Garret (1994:8) says HIV-1 and HIV-2 both appear to have been transmitted to humans from primates in Central and West Africa, probably to hunters or processors of carcasses of primates consumed as food (referred to as “bush meat”).
Beginning as simian viruses, they became human viruses once they achieved sustained transmission from person to person. This appears to have accrued at least four times in history, three times from chimpanzees (pan troglodytes), possibly in the 1930, representing the three major strains of HIV-1 and once from sooth man gabeys, representing HIV-2 Garret (1994:9).
Social and technological changes in Africa resulted in the transmission of HIV to larger and larger number of adulated as roads were built and river transport developed, making travel to cities, with their better economic opportunities, far easier and more rapid.
A silent heterosexual epidemic occurred, according to Mann, et al (1998:81), and spread via travelers to industrial nations of Europe and North America, where the new syndrome was initially recognized as a distinct finical entity in 1981, even though the number of cases then was minimal. Hence, by 1993, epidemiologist had discerned the routes of transmission and pointed the way for laboratory investigation to identify the etiologic agents originally given three difference names by the French (1983) and two African (1984) research teams that discovered the virus, the name HIV was agreed upon in 1980.
HIV-1 has spread worldwide, infecting more than 36 million people by 2001. HIV-2, which seems to be less clinically severe and possible less transmissible from person to persons has mainly been public health originally epidemic in Africa and urban settings, HIV and Aids are now among the most common serious infection globally, including the Americans and Asians especially in rural setting. All ages, tribal and ethnic groups and persons of all sexually one nations have been infected.
The rapid and continuing global spread of HIV, despite its well known and severe clinical consequences, points out how difficult it is to change risky sexual and drug taking behaviours. Many successful educational and social interventions have been demonstrated but sustaining them in large population for long periods requires extensive resources and a strong public health commentate for instance, latex condoms effectively prevent sexual transmission of HIV, but making them available and educating interested persons or their sex partners to use them correctly and consistently has been accomplished only with extra ordinary preventive efforts are considered controversial or are opposed by religious as other groups who interpret prevention effort to reflect an acceptance of behaviour they do not condone on moral groups. Further, information on HIV and Radio as a medium of mass communication is one of the means frequently used to educate the people on the nature of the virus and the need for prevention. This is done through creating more programmes and gables to campaign against spread of HIV/Aids.
This is so because radio is believed to be a powerful tool for change, individuals corporate organization and government at various levels make use of it effect changes. Presently, the people of Akwa Ibom State are inundated with radio programmes that are aimed at changing the people aptitude that appear to be the force that encourages the spread of the virus. Among such programmes is “Aid and you”.
Pye in Gerald (1963:117) re-emphasized the importance of radio in interest articulation and mobilization of people towards a course. According to him the communicator should create mutual awareness and system comprehension, to amplify or ignore certain acts by public figure or bodies to furnish a common factual basis for rationality and sustaining confidence in the rationality of resources available to other, one can then see the indispensability of radio programme in forming and shaping of peoples attitude in the society.
Obviously, people react to radio programme, messages differently due to demographic variables such as age, sex, education, language and psychographic characteristic among them, attitude opinion, value or self-esteem however Testinger (1964:258) confirmed that modification of behaviour starts with attitude change because even when opinions are changed owing to strong programme messages, they are quite unstable and will disappear unless some environmental changes occur. When these factors can play how then can AKBC-Radio programme “Aids and you” serve as an effective tool in HIV/Aids campaign.
1.2 Statement of the problem
Recently, it has been observed that there is an increasing awareness on the negative and causes of HIV/Aids among the people of Akwa Ibom State, particularly student and civil servants. One of such programmes used to create the awareness is the AKBC-Radio programme “Aids and you” it is widely assumed that the messages of the programme cannot change people’s attitude and behaviour towards HIV/Aids prevention. This assumption of the irrelevance of this radio programme in changing people’s attitude and behaviour, therefore, programme this research tool in HIV/Aids campaign.
1.3 Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are to:
- determine whether the programme has any role to play in HIV/Aids campaigns
- find out if the AKBC-Radio programme “Aids and you” is of interest to people of Uyo metropolis;
- determine whether messages of the programme persuade people by changing their attitude on the issues raised and
- find out whether the people are aware of the existence of the programme.
1.4 Research questions
The following were the research questions
- How has the programme influenced the people?
- What roles does the programme play in HIV/Aids campaigns?
- Is the AKBC-Radio programme “Aids and you” of interest to People of Uyo metropolis?
- Do the message of the programme persuaded people to change their attitude toward HIV/AIDS?
1.5 Significance of the study
The State Action Committee against Aids (SACA), have been putting out campaign messages against the spread of HIV/Aids effected by these factors.
1.6 Scope of the study
This is especially directed at AKBC-Radio programme, “Aids and you” as an effective tool in HIV/Aids campaigns. Therefore other programmes on this station outside the scope are not given attention. Emphasis will be on how the programme influences the people of Uyo metropolis behaviours and attitude towards HIV/Aids. It is the hope of this researcher that the findings of study will not be in vain.
1.7 Definition of terms
Programme: These are individual packages produced and transmitted by AKBC-Radio as its services.
Effective: This refers to the ability of a phenomenon or an activity to achieving its invented result.
Tools: These are package or materials used for a specific purpose.
Campaigns: Communication designed to influence people’s thinking and actions.
Persuasion: The use of powerful words to win over and retain people’s interest in a particular cause or message.
Influence: The power to affect somebody characters, belief or attitude through promotional messages.
