{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,22]],"date-time":"2026-07-22T15:14:11Z","timestamp":1784733251802,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,1,18]],"date-time":"2019-01-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1547769600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Int Med Res"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>In Nigeria, the mass media are used independently or complementarily in health promotion activities to achieve positive lifestyle changes. The mass media can play a positive role in combating the Lassa fever epidemic and its attendant fatality in Nigeria. The present review is necessitated by the widespread reportage and persistence of Lassa fever infection and fatality in Nigeria. From June to October 2018, the authors searched for relevant information in the grey literature, Scopus database, PubMed, Cochrane database, Google, and Nigerian newspapers and magazines, among other sources. Based on the reviewed literature, the authors argue that the mass media reportage of Lassa fever is limited in its content and undermined by poor network connection, the time of the day the broadcasts are made, and people\u2019s indifference. These factors have posed a hindrance to health and environmental behaviours that would help to prevent Lassa fever and have resulted in cases of Lassa fever. It is recommended that media reporters intensify efforts at understanding the best time of the day to broadcast Lassa fever prevention information. The mass media should also make efforts toward providing accurate information regarding disease outbreak because this might help reduce panic and resistance to control and prevention measures.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/0300060518821552","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,1,18]],"date-time":"2019-01-18T07:02:22Z","timestamp":1547794942000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Mass media reportage of Lassa fever in Nigeria: a viewpoint"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"48","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9815-407X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joseph Oluchukwu","family":"Wogu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christiana Ogeri","family":"Chukwu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Alex-Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kenneth Adibe","family":"Nwafor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mass Communication, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ekenechukwu Anazor","family":"Anikpe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joel Chinedum","family":"Ugwuoke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chinyere Christiana","family":"Ugwulor-Onyinyechi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chiedu","family":"Eseadi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Educational Foundations, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,1,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-0300060518821552","unstructured":"World Health Organization. Lassa fever in Nigeria. 04 April 2012. Available at: www.who.int\/csr\/don\/2012_04_04\/en\/ [cited 04 September, 2018]."},{"key":"bibr2-0300060518821552","unstructured":"World Health Organization. Lassa fever-Nigeria. 27 January 2016. Available at: www.who.int\/csr\/don\/27-january-2016-lassa-fever-nigeria\/en\/ [cited 04 September, 2018]."},{"key":"bibr3-0300060518821552","unstructured":"Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). NCDC Lassa fever outbreak weekly Situation Report No. 02. 27 January 2017. Abuja: NCDC."},{"key":"bibr4-0300060518821552","unstructured":"Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). 2016\/2017 Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria. 24 December 2017. Abuja: NCDC."},{"key":"bibr5-0300060518821552","unstructured":"Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). 2018 Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria. 23rd September 2018. Abuja: NCDC."},{"key":"bibr6-0300060518821552","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.pu.10.050189.001145"},{"key":"bibr7-0300060518821552","first-page":"CD004704","volume":"11","author":"Bala MM","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"bibr8-0300060518821552","first-page":"CD001006","volume":"6","author":"Carson KV","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"bibr9-0300060518821552","first-page":"CD009453","volume":"7","author":"Clement S","year":"2013","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"bibr10-0300060518821552","first-page":"CD009287","volume":"6","author":"Ferri M","year":"2013","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"bibr11-0300060518821552","first-page":"CD000389","volume":"1","author":"Grilli R","year":"2002","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"bibr12-0300060518821552","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamainternmed.2015.5546"},{"key":"bibr13-0300060518821552","first-page":"CD011683","volume":"2","author":"Mosd\u00f8l A","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"bibr14-0300060518821552","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(10)60809-4"},{"key":"bibr15-0300060518821552","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/alcalc\/agx094"},{"key":"bibr16-0300060518821552","first-page":"CD004775","volume":"3","author":"Vidanapathirana J","year":"2005","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"bibr17-0300060518821552","unstructured":"Adebiyi P. 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Fighting Lassa: Five Lessons from Three Special Hospitals Managing Most Cases of Lassa fever in Nigeria. April 10, 2018. Available at: https:\/\/nigeriahealthwatch.com\/fighting-lassa-five-lessons-from-three-special-hospitals-managing-most-cases-of-lassa-fever-in-nigeria\/ [cited 23 October, 2018]."},{"key":"bibr28-0300060518821552","unstructured":"The NigeriaGalleria. Lassa fever. 2018. Available at: https:\/\/www.nigeriagalleria.com\/Community-Health\/Lassa-Fever.html [cited 27 October, 2018]."},{"key":"bibr29-0300060518821552","unstructured":"The Communicator. The facts on Lassa fever. The Communicator, 2016; Issue 16, Quarter 1. Available at: https:\/\/www.ncc.gov.ng\/thecommunicator\/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1172:the-facts-on-lassa-fever&catid=27&Itemid=179 [cited 28 October, 2018]."},{"key":"bibr30-0300060518821552","unstructured":"The Sun Nigeria. How to avoid Lassa fever. 2018, February 6. 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