Radio Health Programmes and Menopause Awareness among women of Perimenopausal Age in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria

Abstract

This study was motivated by the perceived lack of awareness among women of perimenopausal age in Rivers State, Nigeria, of the conditions and features that follow the onset of menopause. Specifically, the study analysed the influence of listenership to two flagship health programmes - Medic 923 (Nigeria Info FM) and Health Matters (Treasure 97.7 FM)—on the women's level of awareness and preparation for the onset of menopause. Media Dependency, Media Literacy and Agenda setting theories formed the theoretical framework of the study. Using a survey as the research design, a sample size of 381 was chosen using cluster and purposive sampling techniques from a population of 38,675, with the questionnaire serving as the data collection instrument. The findings reveal that there is a high level of listenership to Medic 923 and Health Matters by women of perimenopausal age, though issues relating to menopause are not significantly focused on, and the result of this is that the awareness of women of perimenopausal age on menopause is low; in fact, radio is not a significant source of menopause information for them. Deriving from the findings, it was recommended that radio do more to prioritise health information programmes with an emphasis on menopause information, and to achieve this, they could partner with Non-Governmental Organisations as well as the Nigerian Women Affairs Ministry for funding.