ABSTRACT

Broadcast media is a critical player in the ongoing efforts to prevent Lassa Fever. Its role lies in its ability to swiftly disseminate information, raise awareness, and drive behavioral change regarding this disease. Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa It is predominantly asymptomatic or results in mild febrile symptoms (about 80% of cases). The study is to examine the broadcast media and the prevention of Lassa fever in Benin Metropolis. A convenience sampling technique was used to select 400 participants both offline and online using a self-structured questionnaire to get data. The findings revealed that broadcast media in Benin Metropolis have been highly effective in disseminating knowledge about Lassa fever, as a majority of respondents (57%) expressed positive perceptions of their impact. All items in the study surpassed the mean cut-off of 3.0, resulting in an average mean score of 3.4, suggesting that broadcast media played a crucial role in raising awareness and educating the public about Lassa fever within Benin Metropolis. The study also showed that broadcast media exert a positive influence on the prevention of Lassa fever.  52.6% of the respondents perceive the influence and impact of broadcast media on the prevention of Lassa fever in Benin Metropolis positively. 57.2% of the respondents perceive that broadcast media as contributed to mitigating the prevalence of Lassa fever within Benin Metropolis. In conclusion the study showed that broadcast media have been highly effective in their efforts, significantly contributing to raising awareness, educating the public, and influencing preventive behaviors related to Lassa fever. The researcher therefore recommends that the government should allocate stronger frequencies to broadcast stations, especially in rural communities, to ensure wider coverage.