USE OF PUBLIC RELATION STRATEGIES TO FIGHT AGAINST THE SCOURGE HIV/AIDS (A STUDY OF ABIA STATE ACTION COMMITTEE ON AIDS; ABSACA)

ABSTRACT

The main focus of this work has been an x-ray on the use of public relations strategies to fight the scourge HIV/AIDS in Abia state. A study of ABSACA. The work shows the need of public relation strategies to be employed in the fight against HIV/AIDS scourge and the bodies in-charge of fighting the disease in Abia state. This work located the various ways one can be infected with the disease and examine how it can be prevented. To solve the research problem both primary and secondary data were collected. The research instrument used in collecting the data was questionnaires while the respondents comprised of both the senior staff of ABSACA and the public in the state (Umuahia, Umudike and inhabitants of MOUAU). In organizing and presenting data collected, tables, frequencies and percentages were used. The various hypothesis were tested using the chi-square as the statistical tool. A major finding is that public relation strategies were employed in the fight against the scourge HIV/AIDS in Abia State and that the bodies in charge of the fight are equipped with information on AIDS but lacks the ability to transfer information to the people due to lack of training, inability to convey the message in the dialect and inadequate funds, it is therefore recommended that public relations officers should be trained in the dialect of the people or an educated translator should be sought, for effective communication, also, the public relations officers should adopt method which are more practical oriented. Additionally government should sponsor a proper funding and that they should provide public relations offices with instrument to visual display in all they would have communicated in words.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i-ii

Certification iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgements v

Abstract vi

Table of contents vii

List of tables x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study 1

1.2  Problem of the Study 2

1.3 Objectives of the Study 4

1.4 Research Hypothesis 4

1.5  Limitation of the Study 5

1.6 Scope of Study 6

1.7 Significance of the Study 6

CHAPTER TWO:  REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.0 Introduction 8

2.1 Definition of the Term Public Relation 8

2.2 Meaning of HIV/AIDS 9

2.3 HIV/AIDS Mode of Operation 10

2.4 Prevention of the HIV/AIDS Scourge in Abia State 11

2.5 Public Relation Strategies and Programmes in the Fight Against

HIV and AIDS Scourge 15

2.6 Public Relation Practice of Relevant Bodies Involved in

the Fight Against HIV/AIDS Scourge 16

CHAPTER THREE:  METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction 19

3.1 Research Design 19

3.2 Area of the Study 20

3.3 Population of the Study 20

3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques 20

3.5 Sources of Data 21

3.5.1. Primary Sources 21

3.5.2. Secondary Sources 21

3.6 Determination of Sample Size 22

3.7 Validity of Instruments 22

3.8 Reliability of Instruments 22

3.9 Administration of Instrument 23

3.10 Method of Data Presentation and Analysis 23

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS

4.0 Introduction 24

4.1 Data Presentation 24

4.2 Test of Hypothesis 34

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.0 Introduction 47

5.1 Summary of Findings 47

5.2 Conclusion 48

5.3 Recommendation 49

REFERENCES 50

APPENDIX I 52

APPENDIX II 55

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Understanding of HIV/AIDS by the staff member and the

     selected publics 25

Table 2: Extent of public relations contribution to the fight against the

    scourge HIV/AIDS in Abia State 25

Table 3: Responses to whether they have observed any form of public

    relations strategies in the fight against the scourge HIV/AIDS

in Abia State 26

Table 4: The impact of public relations strategies created in the fight

    against the scourge HIV/AIDS in Abia State 27

Table 5: Response to whether relevant bodies concentrated with the fight

against the scourge HIV/AIDS in Abia State recognize public

relations strategies as a veritable weapon for such purpose 28

Table 6a: Response to whether ABSACA applies public relations strategies

in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge in Abia State 29

Table 6b: Response to how effectively adequate has the public relations

strategies been applied in the fight against HIV/AIDS 30

Table 7: Response to whether the public relations strategies has yield

       results in respects to its main objectives 31

Table 8: Response to whether the public relations strategies has made

impact in the lives of those affected and others in Abia State 32

Table 9: Where much impact have not been made in the live of these

affected and yet to be affected, what can be responsible for that 33

Table 10: Responses to whether public strategies contribute in the

     fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge in Abia State 34

Table 11: Response to whether public relations strategies has been applied

    in the tight and campaign against the scourge HIV/AIDS in

                 Abia State 37

Table 12: Response to whether the relevant bodies concerned with the

   fight against HIV/AIDS in the State (Abia) recognized public

    relation strategies as a veritable weapon in the fight against

     such scourge 39

Table 13: Responses to whether public relations strategies applied is

 yielding result in the fight against the scourge HIV/AIDS in

the State (Abia) 42

Table 14: Responses to whether public relations strategies has made an

impact in the lives of those affected and yet to be affected

with the scourge HIV/AIDS in the State (Abia) 45

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become a very serious health problem in the world today. The rate at which the disease is contacted has been described as alarming. There is no confirmed cure for the disease yet. A former united state vice president, AI gore while addressing a UN Security Council meeting during his tenure affirmed that AIDS has assured a security crisis, because of its threat not just to individual citizens, but the very institutions that define the character of the global security.

Unfortunately, many people still doubt the existence of AIDS, irrespective of many cases that had been recorded and made public through both the local and international media, while those who don’t doubt its existence believe that it is a white man’s disease. However, the fact that AIDS victims are discriminated against has given life to the culture of secrecy. This stigma to AIDS is because most people saw it as sex related ailment, that is gotten by promiscuous people or people that have engage in unconventional canal act or unprotected sex. This as far as it is true remains a part of the story. It can as well be contacted through the use of unsterilized hospital equipment or through the open sore of an AIDS patients or blood transmission.

According to world health Organization (www.who.int/topicssa/hiv-Aids/an), over three million young people(of age 15 and 21) became infected with HIV and about 90% of these people live in sub-Sahara Africa and Latin America. The case of famous tennis star, Arthur Robery Ashe a very clear example of one who contacted AIDS through the other means than sex, Asha never had unprotected sexual relationship, never had a homosexual act and never took intravenous drugs, what happen to him was an accident which can happen to anyone of us Although, there is a cocktail of retroviral drugs and some other in the market and sound vaccines, the fact is that most of the drugs in the market provides only reliefs. Researchers all over the world are however in frantic search for the cure. But in the absence of any known cure, AIDS victims can only wait and pray. As for now, hope is the only drug they can hang unto. The question remains for how long shall we continue to wait? Can AIDS victims with all their hope survive till the expected cure is recovered?

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has assumed alarming proportions in Nigeria since the first Nigerian case was identified in the thirteen years old girl in 1986, 5% in the year 2003. HIV/AIDS constitute a serious menace to our society, its cancerous nature has destroyed many lives and holds many others captive and has become an issue of major concern. The disease is highly contagious. Unfortunately, most persons who have contacted this dangerous disease keep it a secret to themselves and prefer to die in silence for fear of discrimination should the public gets to know. This lead to early death of the victims and to faster and more spread of the disease.

Thus the HIV scourge has over the years constituted a major source of worry for governmental institutions and philanthropic individuals. The medical science has made concerted efforts but appears to have resigned in the search for its cure, advising those that contacted it to leave with same.

The HIV/AIDS scourge is also a problem in Abia state. Most Abians especially those loving in the rural areas are not aware of the disease and know nothing about how it can be avoided. Some persons have suggested that HIV/AIDS is more than a medical problem; that it is a socio-economic and communication-related issue. Given this perspective, the panacea for combating HIV/AIDS scourge may not lie in the continued search for its cure, but in its prevention. It appears that the proper use of effective communication tools such as public relations and public education will go a long way in ensuring its preventions whether in Abia state or elsewhere.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of the study is;

1. To know how the use of public relation strategies can be used to fight against the scourge HIV/AIDS. And other significant objectives are as follows;

2. To identify the various public relation strategies that has been applied in the fight against HIV/AIDS scourge in Abia state.

3. To determine the various public relation strategies that is used to fight the HIV/AIDS scourge in Abia state.

4. To determine the extent to which to applied public relation strategies in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge has yielded the intended result.

5. To assess the performance of the relevant bodies in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge in Abia state.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following hypothesis will be tested;

H₁: Public relation activities contribute to the awareness creation of the HIV/AIDS scourge in Nigeria

H₂: Public relation strategies have been effectively, efficiently and adequately applied in the fight the HIV/AIDS scourge in Abia state.

H₃: The relevant bodies’ concerned with the fight and campaign against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria do recognizes public relation strategies as a veritable weapon in the fight against such scourge in Abia state.

H₄: Public relation strategies have to a large extent yielded no impact and are still yielding great result application in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge.

H₅: Public relation strategies have made a remarkable impact in the lives of those affected and yet to be affected with HIV/AIDS in Abia state.

1.5  LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study was greatly limited by the following factors, such as financial constraint, time constraint and respondent attitude;

· Financial Constraint: This research work require huge sum of money for producing questionnaires and transportation. Due to lack of fund, the researcher was unable to travel to other part the state for effective data collection, hence only three areas where used.

· Time Constraint: Time is always a constraining factor to all research work as no length of time may be said to be adequate. This is true  because topic researched on experience changes every time. This is to say that development in any field of study is not constant. This therefore, has made it difficult for the researcher to collect the desired volume of information on the research topic.

· Respondents Attitude: The researcher was unable to collect relevant information needed for this research work due to low literacy level of most respondents.

1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY

This research work is limited on the public relation strategies that have relevance in our population of study. Thus the researchers will treat such public relations programmes like information, enlightenment, mobilization, with the various  tools e.g. public enlightenment campaign, media relation, mass media, seminars, workshop, symposia, etc  that are in the awareness creation of HIV/AIDS in Abia state.

1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is very important especially today where people are not aware of the HIV/AIDS scourge.

It also provides sufficient challenges to academics and increase their research interest in the field of knowledge.

The public benefit from this is that they are meant to see HIV/AIDS from the proper perspective other than from the erroneous point of view. Likewise, the government will learn from the study why it is necessary to support public relations practitioners. In the fight against the scourge. Generally, the study educates the people on how to achieve those things that ordinarily they could not have achieved by the use of public relation activities.