A 30-year old Ghanaian, , has emerged the winner of this year’s ‘Best Research Presentation by Young Investigator,” a global competition for young scientists.
His presentation, which was a content analysis of the Daily Graphic newspaper coverage of family planning, abortion, and HIV issues in Ghana, was adjudged the best among the 48 entries.
It was titled: ‘Family Planning, Abortion and HIV in Ghanaian Print Media: a Content Analysis of the Most Widely Circulated Ghanaian Newspaper since 1950 —the Daily Graphic”.
Dr Laar of the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, was honoured at the just-ended International Family Planning Conference in Kampala, Uganda .
Presenting the award, the Dean of the Makerere University School of Public Health, Uganda, Dr William Bazeyo, said all the presentations submitted for the awards were reviewed by a 16-member international panel.
He said Dr Laar’s presentation stood out because of the depth of the study and the style of presentation.
Dr Laar, who also made history as the first PhD scholar from the School of Public Health, said the scope of the study was the issues of the newspaper between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009 — exactly 443 issues. In all, a total of 62 issues were selected.
According to him, the review showed that coverage of the four Reproductive Health issues was inadequate as the percentage coverage of the issues was less than one per cent.
Out of the 4,690 items analysed (including straight news, features, editorials, and letters to the editor), he said, 197 were on health, four on Family Planning, two on abortion, and 19 on HIV.
Dr Laar noted that the finding was a wakeup call for Reproductive Health activists to look for innovative ways of integrating their issues into existing media outlets through contributions with the aim of reinforcing the messages, educating new audiences, sustaining individual behaviour and correcting common misconceptions on some Reproductive Health issues.
Dr Laar made another research presentation at the conference, which was attended by 1,600 participants on the topic: “Knowledge of Some Ghanaian Service Providers on the Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Options Available to HIV-Positive Ghanaian Women.
For his prize, he received US$1,000 for emerging the winner.
Accra floods: 70 seized excavators to be deployed to NADMO for desilting — Munta...
Kasseh Market executives stop sale of food near toilet facility
Three arrested over theft of critical equipment at Komenda Sugar Factory
Nearly half of Ghanaians say military rule can be justified if governments fail ...
GWL resumes production at Barekese Water Treatment Plant after completion of rep...
Economic performance most powerful source of Mahama’s goodwill — IEA
Nyinahini SHS assault: Court strikes out case, urges reconciliation
Even traffic lights in front of police headquarters are being stolen — Roads Min...
One major cause of Ablekuma North rerun violence was lack of security coordinati...
BTU Council divided as Chairman rejects parliamentary mediation in VC dispute
