ABSTRACT


HIV/AIDS is the greatest challenge that has faced the African continent in recent decades. The absence of a cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS and the urgent need to reach people on the impact of this disease has resulted in the emphasis of mass education of populations, which incorporates the use of mass media.Education about HIV/AIDS has gone beyond awareness building to attitude and behaviour change. This project focuses on how HIV/AIDS awareness and education is carried out by the music industry in Nigerias broadcast media. The paper introduces the rationale of HIV/AIDS prevalence among the Nigerian youth. It examines the place of Kenyas music in behaviour change communication by digging into the language and graphics that are encompassed in this music. The paper notes that despite the fact that the media has made efforts to create awareness and advocate for behaviour change, the same media is perpetuating sexual graphics that seem to promote sexual behaviour among the youth. The paper gives recommendations concerning the way HIV/AIDS and behaviour change communication should be carried out by Kenyas broadcast media, with the hope that these incorporations will help save young lives from HIV/AIDS scourge.

INTRODUCTION


HIV/AIDS pandemic has become the greatest challenge in the 21 st century. One of the most severe consequences of the disease is the loss of young adults in their most productive years. High level of teenage pregnancy, abortions, school dropouts and sexually transmitted infections confirm that youths are engaged in early sexual activities that are increasingly predisposed to HIV/AIDS.The high rate of infection among the youth depicts a situation whereby, either the youth have not received sufficient information regarding the dangers associated with the disease, or they have ignored the message. In Nigeria, HIV/AIDS communication has tried to focus on methods that will motivate individuals to change their attitudes and behaviour. One of the methods that has been adversely utilized is the use of media, both printed and electronic. This is largely because the media is a powerful source of sexual information for adolescents, affecting their beliefs and behaviour as well, especially in a society that is closed up on sexual matters Steel, 1999. Furthermore, adolescents do look to media guidance on where they fit in the world Steel, 1999This project examines the role that the television and radio as broadcast media play in communicating the message of HIV/AIDS and subsequent behaviour change to the youth. The project notes that the youth have been adversely affected by the HIV/AIDS scourge. Equally deadly is the fact that majority of the young people have the knowledge about the way the disease is transmitted and are also aware of the risk they face as the young people, but their knowledge is not reflected in their sexual practices. The paper digs into the language and graphics that are used by broadcast media to create awareness on HIV/AIDS and to sensitize them on ways of taking control measures. Lastly, recommendations are given on how the media, using the music industry, can succeed in having the youth change their sexual attitude