AIDS in the Japanse Mass Media: Content Analysis of Articles about AIDS from 1982 to 1992 in the Japanese Newspaper

Abstract

We undertook a content analysis of articles mentioning HIV/AIDS from 1982 to 1992 in the Asahi Shinbun, a national daily newspaper in Japan. We also examined what influence the articles may have had on people's health behavior. The findings of this study are as follows: 1. A total of 1381 articles about AIDS were found in the newspaper between 1982 and 1992. In particular, articles in 1987 and 1992 were large in volume. 2. The proportion of content categories had changed during the eleven years. In 1987, the category about AIDS-related studies was the largest in article volume, while the category about AIDS education and other preventive activities stood first in 1992. Both categories accounted for almost 50% of the total articles during the period. 3. The countries which were the major focus of the articles were the United States and countries in Europe. However, articles about AIDS in Japan gradually increased. 4. The change in article volume about AIDS was not associated with the number of HIV infections in Japan, but there seemed to be a connection between the article volume about AIDS and the number of visitors at health centers for anti-HIV testing or counselin