TELEVISION CAMPAIGN MESSAGES AND AWARENESS OF MALARIA CONTROL PROGRAMME AMONG YOUTHS IN OYIGBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA RIVERS STATE

ABSTRACT This study examines the influence of television campaign messages an awareness of malaria control programmes among youths in Nigeria, using those of Oyigbo Local Government Area as a reference point. Five objectives were designed for the study, which were to: the objectives of this study were to find out whether youths in Oyibo Local Government Area in Rivers State are exposed to television campaign messages on malaria control programmes; examine the extent to which they are exposed to television campaign messages on malaria control programmes; ascertain whether youths in Oyigbo are aware of malaria control programmes; investigate whether their awareness of malaria control programmes is influenced by their exposure to television campaign messages; find out other factors than television campaign messages that also contribute to . awareness of malaria control prgrammes. To achieve these objectives, the study adopts a survey research design using the questionnaire as the main instrument for data collection, sampled on 399 residents of Oyigbo Local Government Area, with 380 copies retrieved and used or analysis. Findings revealed that majority of the residents of Oyigbo local Government Area, 81% watch television. They watch television campaign messages on malaria control programmes 85% of youths in Oyigbo because aware of malaria control programmes through television. This implies that television campaign messages have a very high extent promote awareness of malaria control programmes among youth in Oyigbo Local Government Area. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made: Knowledge gained from campaign about malaria should be translated into practice to enable people maintain a malaria free life; Information about malaria should be adequately diffused to help people gain sufficient knowledge about it. This should be done through the media; Government and health ministry should provide mosquitoes nets and mosquitoes deoxidants to help keep people sage from mosquito bites; The environment should be kept clear devoid of stagnant water to avoid accumulation of mosquitoes that could be infected to health.