Published in PLOS One on 2026-07-24, this study is presented as an attributed evidence briefing. The excerpts below are the original researchers’ words, reproduced under their Creative Commons Attribution licence. Health Signal has selected the abstract and, where needed, opening background paragraphs; the complete methods, results, limitations and references remain in the linked paper.
Original authors: Dereck L. Hamunakwadi, Stephanie L. Smith
Source: PLOS One • DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0341285
Read the complete primary study ↗ · Creative Commons Attribution licence
From the researchers
Abstract
Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs, such as cardiovascular and diabetes) pose an increasing burden in low-and middle-income countries, accounting for ~80% of premature (under age 70) NCD deaths globally. Despite their significant and rapidly growing burden—and status under United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.4—little is known about the agenda status of NCDs in lower-income countries. Though coverage of health issues shapes policymaker and public awareness and opinions, news media is an under-analyzed agenda setting arena. This study explores levels of priority for 10 NCDs compared to four infectious diseases and their burdens in the news media arena in Malawi; shifts in the agenda during the COVID-19 emergency; and media framing of actors responsible for addressing Malawi’s NCD burden. The study is informed by analysis of the contents of headlines (an indicator of media priority) and a purposefully selected subset of articles (framing analysis) published in two news outlets between 2015 and 2023. News media priority for NCDs in Malawi remained relatively low despite elevation to Sustainable Development Goal status. Between 2015 and 2019, news media priority in Malawi heavily favored HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria over 10 NCDs. Media priority shifted to COVID-19 and headlines on mental health surged ahead of those on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis during the emergency (2020–2023). Alignment between the burden of disease and media priority was inconsistent. News media framed nongovernmental actors (primarily domestic) as responsible for addressing NCDs (predominantly cancers) far more frequently than other actors, including government, politicians and development partners. Featuring patterns of low attention and framing that fails to hold authorities responsible for addressing NCDs, media priority appears unlikely to substantially shift public opinion or policymaker agendas in their favor in Malawi. This study sets the stage for further analysis of media priority for health issues in lower-income countries.
Introduction
Eighty percent of premature mortality (under age 70) from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs, such as cardiovascular, diabetes, cancers, and mental health disorders) occurs in lower income countries [1]. In the WHO African Region, NCDs are emerging as a leading cause of death, accounting for 37% of mortality in 2019 [2]. NCDs are expected to surpass communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases as the leading cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 [3]. Despite their significant and rapidly growing burden—and status under United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4 to reduce it—little is known about the agenda status of NCDs in lower-income countries. News media forms an important and under-analyzed agenda setting arena in which diseases compete for coverage that shapes policymaker and public awareness and opinions [4–8]. This study offers novel insights to priority for NCDs relative to high-profile infectious diseases—and which types of actors are portrayed as responsible for alleviating the NCD burden—in a subset of the news media arena in Malawi.
Reading this evidence
Use the full paper to check the study design, participant selection, comparator and outcome definitions before drawing a practical conclusion. An association does not by itself show cause and effect. A reported performance measure needs its denominator and uncertainty. A finding from a particular facility, sample or time period should retain that scope when it is discussed elsewhere.
This briefing makes the source accessible within the wider public health desk. It does not assess an individual patient or certify a product. When considering relevance to another health system, examine the original authors’ account of context and limitations, then seek local implementation evidence. The related reporting below provides other studies to read alongside this one; it is a topic connection, rather than a claim that their results are directly comparable.
© 2026 Dereck L. Hamunakwadi, Stephanie L. Smith. Excerpts reproduced under CC BY. Selection, formatting and contextual notes by Health Signal. The researchers are the authors of the source study, not members of Health Signal’s staff.
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