The Use of Appropriate Communication Channels to Understand Life Threatening Diseases: A Study of Viral Hepatitis Infection among Onikolobo Residents in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Amos Kolawole¹, Amoo John Kehinde², Adegboyega Taofeek Tope³, Agu Georgia Chinemenwa⁴, Tejuosho Wasiu¹

¹Department of Mass Communication, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
²State Hospital, Isara, Nigeria.
³Department of Biological Sciences, Southwestern University Nigeria, Ijebu, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Microbiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/aid.2015.54024                

Abstract

This work examines the use of communication channels to sensitize the people about life threatening diseases with special emphasis on Hepatitis. It becomes very topical at this moment because most of the viral infections wreak havoc such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and more recently, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) assumed an epidemic proportion because the people were not adequately sensitized with precautionary measures against them. One of such measures is dissemination of useful information on how to avoid or contain such viral infections. It also concerns itself with hepatitis because of its contagious nature and the way it attacks the liver. The study reviews relevant concepts to information dissemination. It discovers that as deadly as the disease is, most people, including some health attendants in hospitals do not understand what it means and how it is contracted. In addition, it was discovered that 60% of the total respondents did not know about hepatitis. 73% of those who claimed they knew about it knew through friends and not through the media. 80% of those who claimed they sought health information from the media did not know about hepatitis. 65% of those who claimed they had high access to radio did not really seek health information from the radio. In the communities in Nigeria, we suggest that there should be increased public awareness about viral diseases, complete immunization against viral hepatitis and better sanitation facilities. Other efforts by the Government should include the provision of safe drinking water; expansion of well-equipped hospitals among other health developmental programmes will go a long way in the reduction of hepatitis in communities, among pregnant women as well as its associated maternal effects in the communities.

Keywords

Communication, Hepatitis, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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