Online News Media Coverage of Women's Health in India: A Content Analysis Nerurkar Olive* Associate Prof, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) *Corresponding Author: Olive Nerurkar Associate Prof, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Darshana Park C-11, Kalyaninagar, Pune-411006
Online published on 23 December, 2019. Abstract Women's health is of particular concern in India as numbers involving Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) are rising alongside Reproductive and Sexual health disorders. Women's health must, therefore, encompass women's sexual and reproductive health, as well as NCDs. Media coverage of issues related to women's health plays a vital role in increasing awareness, influencing public opinion, and motivating change in health policies. Hence, this study was designed to assess news coverage of women's health in India. Method Online daily news media exclusively covering health in India from June 2018-May 2019 were systematically analyzed, and articles concerning women's health were identified. The articles were taken from two national online daily news media reporting in English language about women's Reproductive and Sexual health and Noncommunicable diseases, and the pieces were coded and analyzed. Results Out of a total of 240 articles, 108 relevant to the study were identified from two online news media which enjoyed high readership. The articles were a mix of news, features, and commentary/interview. The articles covered various disease types (Reproductive and Sexual Health, CVD, Cancer, Respiratory Diseases, Diabetes, Mental Health, General Wellbeing, and Other). The article coverage included research study findings from India, international agencies/countries, or global. Prevention, diagnostics and therapy, location or context of the news, and the stakeholders were also covered. The analyses show reportage mostly covering diseases affecting women's Reproductive and Sexual Health and Cancer. Limited information was provided on most of the significant Non-communicable Diseases like Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), Diabetes, Chronic respiratory diseases. The rate of NCDs affecting women in India is galloping. The skew in the article coverage of conditions may create a gap in awareness about more pressing NCDs and hence may fail to influence policy actions at the governmental or industry level. Further the articles mentioned stakeholders like the government, global/international agencies or countries, and individual. There was a lesser mention of industry. Some lost opportunities in the media coverage have been identified as lack of a balance in the articles published on diseases, lack of comprehensiveness in terms of disease burden, stakeholder role or lack of suggestions for policy changes. Conclusion Gaps exist in the current online news media coverage on women's health in India, suggesting the need for more comprehensive coverage of diseases and influencing policy action of the government and industry. Through better coverage of the major NCDs, quantification of the health burden and suggestion for policy actions, the media can play a critical role in galvanizing India's movement on women's health. These data suggest opportunities for government and industry. Top Keywords Online news media, content analysis, women's health in India, Non Communicable diseases and Reproductive and Sexual Health, stakeholders. Top |