Mass Media and Climate Change Awareness Among Women of Reproductive Age in Ekiti State

The study examined mass media and climate change awareness among women of reproductive age in Ekiti State. The research employed descriptive survey design. The research sample consisted of 250 women drawn from 10 towns in Ekiti State, using a multistage sampling procedure. An instrument tagged Mass Media, and the Climate Change Awareness Questionnaire (MMCCAQ) was administered to provide valuable data for this study. The validity of the instruments were ensured by experts of Sociology and Test, and Measurements. The internal consistency of the instrument was ascertained through Cronbach Alpha, which yielded coefficient values of 0.91. The responses obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that the level of climate change awareness among women of reproductive age in Ekiti State was low. It also revealed that mass media would go a long way to create climate change awareness among women of reproductive age since print media, broadcast media, and social media influenced climate change awareness. From the findings, it was recommended that print media such as newspapers, magazines, and billboards should place more emphasis on climate change as it affects the livelihood of women and all the activities they engage in to adapt to climate change.

Keywords: Mass Media, Climate Change, Awareness, Women, Reproductive Age,