ROLES OF MASS MEDIA IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE OUTBREAK OF MEASLES IN NIGERIA

1.1 Introduction

Measles is an infectious disease which causes fever and a red rash on the skin. It mainly affects children but can occur at any age. Measles is a viral infection of the respiratory system. Measles is a very contagious disease that can spread through contact with infected mucus and it is recorded that Nigeria still tops the chart of country where many children are not immunized as preventative measures against the disease. Measles outbreaks pose a continuing public health problem in Africa and other developing nations of the world (Grais et al., 2008). Measles is a vaccine preventable, highly transmissible viral infection that affects mostly under-five year children. We reviewed surveillance data on Measles from Nigeria over a five-year period to highlights its burden, and make recommendations for improvements.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by Morbillivirus; a member of the Paramyxovirus family, which is transmitted to susceptible individual through aerosol or by direct contact (WHO, 2017). The virus infects the mucous membranes of exposed individual and then spreads to other part of the body. Measles is known to infect only human with no known animal reservoir (WHO, 2017; Akande, 2007). Measles has an incubation period of about 10 days (with a range of 7 to 18 days). It is characterized by prodromal fever, conjunctivitis, coryza, cough and presence of Koplik spots. A characteristic maculopapular rash appears on the third to seventh day beginning on the face and become more generalized (Ibrahim et al., 2016). In developing countries, up to 75% of cases may have one or more complications. The mortality rate for measles infection in children is usually 0.2%, but may be up to 10% in malnourished children (WHO, 2017; Akande, 2007; Ibrahim et al., 2016; Pinkbook et al., 2016). In cases with complications, the mortality rate may rise to 20–30% (CDC, 2016).

Measles affects up to 20 million people a year worldwide, most of these infections are seen in the developing areas of Africa and Asia (WHO, 2017; Akande, 2007; Ibrahim et al., 2016; Pinkbook et al., 2016; CDC, 2016; Merckmanuals, 2017). Among the childhood vaccine-preventable diseases, measles causes the most deaths in children (Kabra et al., 2013). Globally, measles mortality fell 60% from an estimated 873,000 deaths in 1999 to 345,000 in 2005 (Kabra et al., 2013). Estimates for 2008 indicate deaths fell further to 164,000, with 77% of the remaining measles deaths in 2008 occurring within the Southeast Asian region (WHO, 2017; Akande, 2007; Ibrahim et al., 2016; Pinkbook et al., 2016; CDC, 2016; Merckmanuals, 2017; Kabra et al., 2013; WHO, 2016). In 2014, measles infection resulted in about 73,000 deaths (Wang et al., 2017; GBD, 2013). Reduced deaths from measles worldwide are due to increased rates of immunization among UN member states (Ludlow et al., 2015).

Measles case fatality has been estimated to be between 3 to 5% in developing countries and may be as high as 10% during epidemics (WHO, 2012). Despite the efforts made at increasing immunization, measles remains a leading cause of under-five mortality in Africa (Odega et al., 2010). There were about 139, 300 measles deaths globally in 2011 representing nearly 380 deaths every day or 15 deaths every hour (WHO, 2013). Most measles morbidity and mortality were seen in under-five children (WHO, 2017). In the United States, between 3-4 million cases of measles occurred yearly before the discovery of an effective measles vaccine (CDC, 2016). As a result of widespread vaccination, the disease was hence eliminated from the Americas by 2016 (PAHO, 2017). The burden of morbidity and mortality of measles is thus reducing across the developed world. In 2013–14 there were almost 10,000 cases in 30 European countries. Most cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals (Wiley, 2015). In Latin America achieving high vaccination rates has reduced measles mortality in these regions to near zero (Hersh et al., 2000).

Measles is an endemic disease in Nigeria, with recurrent outbreaks occurring at irregular intervals. Measles transmission in Nigeria occurs through all months of the year, but peaks in the dry season (February, March and April) (Ibrahim et al., 2016). Measles transmission also sometimes occurs immediately after the end of the rainy season and often reaches epidemic proportions in the dry season. Nigeria is one of only ten countries in the world with vaccine coverage of less than 50% and one of nine countries in which children do not have a chance of a second measles vaccination (Dhsprogram, 2017; Schimmer et al., 2006).

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to examine the Roles of Mass Media in the Campaign against the Outbreak of Measles.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the spread of measles could be easily prevented. It is also likely that Mass media platforms have not been fully used in carrying out enlightenment on the prevention of the epidemic in the community. This is because, Mass media channels of communication appear to be effective channels for promoting awareness campaigns on the prevention of measles, especially in rural areas where the spread of the epidemic has continued to threaten human lives and wellbeing.

In promoting healthy social living in rural areas, Mass media of communication also seem to play vital role in communicating information on the prevention of measles. Mass media could be deploy in carrying out enlightenment to educate, inform and sensitize members of the community on how to prevent the spread of measles while ensuring healthy living in the society.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Roles of Mass Media in the Campaign against the Outbreak of Measles in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine the roles played by mass media in the promotion of awareness on the prevention of measles in Nigeria.
2. To examine the mass media role of campaigning against the Outbreak of Measles in Nigeria
3. To find out whether mass media are used for promoting awareness on the prevention of measles in Nigeria.
4. To ascertain the challenges affecting the effective use of mass media in promoting awareness on the prevention of measles in Nigeria.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Are there challenges affecting the effective use of mass media in promoting awareness on the prevention of measles in Nigeria?
• Is mass media used for promoting awareness on the prevention of measles in Nigeria?
• What is the mass media role of campaigning against the Outbreak of Measles in Nigeria?
• What are the roles played by mass media in the promotion of awareness on the prevention of measles in Nigeria?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There are no significant challenges affecting the effective use of mass media in the campaigning against the outbreak of measles in Nigeria
• H1: There are significant challenges affecting the effective use of mass media in the campaigning against the outbreak of measles in Nigeria

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1.7 Significance of Study

This study will highlight the importance of mass media as channels of communication capable of addressing social issues confronting the society and instilling in the larger society values and attitudes that would assist them lead safer and better lives as members of the society.

It would highlight the importance of mass media platforms in distributing information concerning issues which pose threats to the survival and sustenance of the society, despite the growth and ongoing transformation of communication platforms in the twenty-first century where communication platforms continue to transform massively and become highly sophisticated.

The study will also reveal the lapses of social institutions of government, non-government agencies and the public in making efforts in promoting the dissemination of information on the prevention of epidemics such as measles in developing countries like Nigeria. It will also reveal efforts of social institutions such as international donor agencies and organizations such as World Health Organisation (WHO), in promoting awareness capable of spreading information on the prevention of epidemics in rural areas where epidemics remain common among the inhabitants.

This study will also be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on Roles of Mass Media in the Campaign against the Outbreak of Measles in Nigeria.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Operational Definition of Terms

Measles: Measles is an infectious disease which causes fever and a red rash on the skin. It mainly affects children but can occur at any age. Measles is a viral infection of the respiratory system.

Enlightenment: Enlightenment refers to the role of the mass media platforms as channels of promoting knowledge or understanding concerning issues affecting members of the society.