Awka South Residents’ Response to Media Coverage of Paternity Fraud

Abstract

This study examined the response of residents of Awka South Local Government Area (LGA) in Anambra State, Nigeria, to media coverage of paternity fraud. The objectives were to determine the extent of exposure to media coverage, identify the channels of exposure, assess belief in the media reports, and investigate how residents used these reports. A survey research method was employed, and a multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 300 participants from a population of 271,342. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using simple percentages. Findings revealed high exposure to media coverage of paternity fraud, with social media and online news websites being the predominant channels. Residents demonstrated high believability in media reports on paternity fraud and primarily used these reports for informational and enlightenment purposes, with entertainment being a secondary motivation. The study highlighted the critical role of media in shaping public attitudes toward family and societal issues, underscoring the importance of accurate and balanced media coverage. The study recommends that media outlets continue to focus on presenting fact-based, informative reports on paternity fraud to better inform public understanding.