Millions of people have died of HIV/AIDS pandemic. Unfortunately, there is still no cure for HIV/AIDS in spite of the efforts that have been made by biomedical and medical researchers. Therefore,, both government and non-governmental organizations, including the mass media are daily providing information for citizens on how they can avoid coming in contact with HIV as well as educating those who already have the virus on how they could live happily and healthy despite their circumstance. Since the church is an agent of development, we decided to review the approach of the Pentecostal pastors in combating the wide spread of the disease. In our study, 300 questionnaires were administered on pastors in the three leading Pentecostal churches; 220 of the questionnaires were returned for analysis, upon which the findings and recommendations of this study were based. It was discovered that most Pentecostal pastors usually emphasize messages on the prevention of HIV as well as its effects on patients much more than messages that tend to build hope into HIV/AIDS patients. Therefore, we advise pastors to build hope into AIDS patients and all the concerned groups in the campaign against HIV/AIDS should collaborate with the church in the campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS.

^JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 1, No. 1, April 2009, 141 – 151.

 About the authors

*Godwin Ehiarekhian Oboh is a lecturer and Head of Department of Mass Communication, Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

**Ademola David Adeleke is a Pastor and Christian Counsellor, Daniels Book Ministry, Kilometer 9, Idiroko Road, Benja-Otta, Ogun-State, Nigeria.

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Article Citation

Oboh, G. E. & Adeleke, A. D. (2009): Communicating awareness messages on  HIV/AIDS: The Nigerian pentecostal pastors’ approach. Journal of Communication and Media Research 1(1): 141 – 151.