Media exposure to family planning contents and adult support for teaching children about condom use to prevent HIV/AIDS: Findings from 2003 to 2014 Ghana Demographic Health Surveys

Abstract

Exposure to public health contents in the media has a positive influence on people’s attitudes towards the adoption of certain health behaviours and acceptance of health policies. However, the effect of adult’s exposure to family planning contents in the media on their support for teaching children about condoms in Ghana is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between adults’ exposure to family planning contents in the media and their support for teaching 12–16 years old children about condoms to prevent HIV/AIDs. To test the hypothesis, we used 2003, 2008, and 2014 demographic and health surveys (DHS) datasets. About 61%, 54%, and 55% of adults have supported the teaching of children about condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS in 2003, 2008, and 2014, respectively. The results indicated that adult’s exposure to family planning content through reading the newspaper, listening to the radio, and watching television (TV) was significantly related to their support for teaching children about condoms. Media exposure was related to adult’s support for teaching chil dren about condoms, but there were large numbers of non-media exposed adults who supported the teaching of children about condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS and of media exposed adults who were not in support. We propose that from a public health standpoint, media exposure and other factors should be considered when designing health education programs to garner adult’s support in teaching children about condoms. Some of the other important factors that policymakers should consider include encouraging adults to use modern contraceptives and creating opportunities for all Ghanaians to attain formal education to the highest level.