An Assessment of the Media’s Role Towards the Creation of Public Awareness on Sickle Cell Disease in Ghana: A Case Study in Accra

Abstract

Health communication has been argued out to be very instrumental in the education of people on issues related to their health. Most importantly, it is considered as very significant towards the dissemination of knowledge, affecting behavior, and changing attitudes towards a health issue. In this regard, the media has been seen as very pivotal in championing this cause. It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to evaluate the role of the media in the creation of awareness of Sickle Cell Disease in Ghana. Previous studies have highlighted that the involvement of the media in the creation of this awareness could go a long way to mitigate the incidence of SCDs, based on their social responsibility function. This study seeks to evaluate the public perception regarding the various ways the media have contributed to the creation of awareness, the medium that most useful in the process, as well as the challenges that have bedeviled the media’s ability to perform this utilitarian task. Most importantly, the study seeks to measure and assess the performance of the media by measuring the level of awareness of the public on issues regarding SCDs such as causes, effects, and how it can be prevented.