Exposure and Attitude towards Media Messages on Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDS) among Men in Rural Niger State

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases have raised a lot of concern as a major cause of mortality and morbidity among adult populations in sub-Sahara Africa. Media messages and medical solutions are used to address the menace of cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated exposure to, and attitude towards media messages on cardiovascular diseases among men in rural communities in Niger
State, Nigeria. The study focuses on three local government areas in Niger State-Lapai, Suleja and Kontagora. The survey method was adopted to conduct the study. The Australian Sample Size Calculator was used to draw a sample of 539 respondents while the multi-stage sampling technique was adopted as the sampling approach for the study. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistical tools such as frequency tables and percentages. The study revealed that the level of exposure to general CVD messages was (66.5%). Men in Rural Communities in Niger State have a high level of exposure to media messages on CVDs. The research recommends that
the knowledge level needs to increase to match the level of awareness and exposure. Also the media, government and health professionals should take in to cognizance the socio-economic and cultural factors in designing media messages on CVDs in Niger State.