No abstract

Background Electronic cigarette use has become an international phenomenon in recent years, with many countries reporting an increase in the number of electronic cigarette users. Despite this, it remains largely unclear how news about the use of electronic cigarettes is portrayed in Africa. This study examined how news on electronic cigarette use is portrayed in Africa. Methods Content analysis was conducted to reveal the prevalence of codes and themes. A thematic analysis was also undertaken to explore how the choice of news sources influences news framing. Results The study found that positively framed articles and arguments about e-cigarettes in Africa outnumbered negatively framed articles and arguments. The study also found that the health impacts of electronic cigarettes were the most discussed topic and health authorities were the commonly used news sources. Conclusion Despite public health authorities being the main news source, the study found that there was a lack of unison in the argument on the safety of electronic cigarette use which could result in public health consequences, such as the formation of uninformed policies.

The mass media play a crucial role in informing the masses about various health issues, they are the main source of health information. The media's portrayal of electronic cigarette news, therefore, plays a crucial role in shaping audience attitudes and understanding of electronic cigarettes. This narrative review focused on content analytical studies on electronic cigarettes in different countries and regions as published in various peer-reviewed journals and available on Google Scholar. In the instances where electronic cigarette consumption is presented with negative frames, the accompanying overall story topics are mostly related to policy issues and the most commonly used news sources are government officials and legislators. It was also observed that news framing in other countries is somewhat balanced. This could be attributed to mounting scientific findings about the health impact of e-cigarettes. Therefore, a causal direction would likely follow where health officials and scientist would be the main and most frequently used sources of information.

The mass media play a crucial role in informing the masses about various health issues, they are the main source of health information. The media's portrayal of electronic cigarette news, therefore, plays a crucial role in shaping audience attitudes and understanding of electronic cigarettes. This narrative review focused on content analytical studies on electronic cigarettes in different countries and regions as published in various peer-reviewed journals and available on Google Scholar. In the instances where electronic cigarette consumption is presented with negative frames, the accompanying overall story topics are mostly related to policy issues and the most commonly used news sources are government officials and legislators. On the other hand, news framing in other countries is somewhat balanced and this could be attributed to mounting scientific findings about the health impact of e-cigarettes. Doctors and scientists are likely to be the main and most frequently used sources of information in such cases.