Exploring electronic cigarette portrayals: a content and thematic analysis of African online news coverage

Ngoma, C. and Adebisi, Y. A. (2023) Exploring electronic cigarette portrayals: a content and thematic analysis of African online news coverage. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 18, 50. (doi: 10.1186/s13011-023-00559-6) (PMID:37644547) (PMCID:PMC10466762)

Abstract

Background: Electronic cigarette use has surged internationally in recent years, with numerous countries noting an uptick in users. Despite this, the portrayal of e-cigarette usage in African news remains unclear. Methods: This research investigates the subject, employing a mixed-methodology approach. The study units were news articles on electronic cigarette use retrieved from AllAfrica, an online African news archive. A total of 38 online news and opinion articles published between June 2017 and June 2022 qualified the exclusion and inclusion criteria. A content analysis revealed prevalent codes and themes, while a thematic analysis explored the association between news sources and framing. Results: The results indicate that articles and arguments presenting e-cigarettes positively outnumber those with a negative slant. The health impacts of electronic cigarettes emerged as the most discussed topic, with health authorities frequently cited as news sources. However, these health authorities often lacked a unified stance on e-cigarette safety. Conclusion: The lack of consensus among health officials could have public health consequences, possibly resulting in the formulation of uninformed policies.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding: The research was undertaken as of part C.N.’s Master’s Degree in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences. The authors received no funding to undertake the research.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Adebisi, Yusuff Adebayo
• Authors: Ngoma, C., and Adebisi, Y. A.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences
• Journal Name: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• ISSN: 1747-597X
• ISSN (Online): 1747-597X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 18:50
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence