International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: Road traffic collisions (RTCs) constitute a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with the country recording one of the highest rates of road traffic fatalities globally. The media play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and influencing policy decisions regarding road safety. Despite efforts to curb the menace, RTCs continue to plague Nigerian roads. Although studies have examined the epidemiology of RTCs, there is limited understanding of how Nigerian newspapers apply World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in reporting road traffic incidents.
Objective: This study examined the application of World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in road traffic safety reporting by four Nigerian newspapers- Daily Trust, Leadership, The Sun, and Vanguard-focusing on the frequency of reportage and the identification of WHO-prescribed reporting angles.
Method: The study adopted a quantitative content analysis research design. The population comprised 2,920 newspaper editions published between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. Using the Taro Yamane sample size determination method, 400 editions (100 from each newspaper) were selected. From these, 131 road traffic safety reports were purposively sampled for analysis. A structured coding sheet was used to collect data on headlines, body texts, visuals, and WHO-prescribed reporting angles. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages and presented in tables. Inter-coder reliability was established using ReCal 0.1 Alpha, yielding a Kappa coefficient of 0.987.
Result: Findings revealed that Nigerian newspapers contributed only 0.60% of documented RTC reports compared to 99.40% recorded by the Federal Road Safety Corps, indicating minimal media engagement. Coverage predominantly emphasised the deadliness of RTCs (31.2%), while WHO-recommended angles such as stakeholder perspectives (7.8%), vulnerability of certain groups (10.4%), and strain on public health systems (13.0%) received limited attention.
Conclusion: The study concludes that Nigerian newspapers demonstrate sporadic engagement and partial adherence to WHO guidelines, with a tendency toward episodic and sensational reporting rather than comprehensive, solution-oriented coverage.
Unique Contribution: This study extends existing literature by shifting focus from the epidemiology of road traffic accidents to the quality of media reporting, specifically assessing adherence to WHO guidelines in Nigerian newspaper coverage.
Key Recommendation: The study recommends that journalists receive specialised training on WHO guidelines for road safety reporting, with emphasis on balanced and comprehensive coverage across all prescribed angles, particularly underreported areas such as stakeholder perspectives, vulnerability of high-risk groups, and the burden on public health systems.