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

• Main Authors: Chimwemwe Ngoma (Author), Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2023-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/s13011-023-00559-6; 1747-597X
• Keywords: Portrayals; e-cigarettes; Electronic cigarettes; News; Content analysis; Thematic analysis; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology; HV1-9960
• Source: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2023)

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.