Increasing the coverage of reproductive health issues in the Egyptian press

Abstract

Although the mass media can play a significant role in influencing public debate and creating awareness of neglected issues print media professionals are often insufficiently oriented about such problems as illiteracy womens rights and harmful practices and traditions. In Egypt where studies have shown that literate women read newspapers and magazines to obtain information and to receive advice and guidance on reproductive health (RH) issues this represents a substantial missed opportunity. In response this project was established based on the previous experiments of the FRONTIERS and POLICY projects to widen media coverage of critical RH issues and to communicate related research findings in a more systematic manner. The project had three key elements: 1) an assessment of the coverage of RH issues in the Egyptian press was undertaken for 10 months from May 1999 to March 2000; 2) a network was formed of about 20 journalists from newspapers and magazines of different publishing houses; and 3) four roundtable discussions were organized on critical RH issues including marriage patterns youth and RH women and menopause and contraceptive technology. Overall the project had a positive impact on increasing the coverage of RH issues in the country and hence in raising public awareness of these important issues. It also contributed to the formation of an informed cadre of print journalists who are knowledgeable and committed to reporting on critical RH issues in Egypt.