Iowa Doctoral Researcher Receives Competitive Grant to Tackle Sickle Cell Disease Misinformation

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Nigerian doctoral researcher Ugochukwu Madu has been awarded the 2024 Easton Collaborative Research Award by the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication for his novel study addressing misinformation about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) linked to the traditional Ọgbanje belief in southeastern Nigeria.

The competitive research grant, awarded on February 26, 2024, supports collaborative academic projects between graduate students and faculty, with the student serving as lead researcher. Madu will work alongside Professor Rachel Young to investigate the role of journalists in dispelling culturally rooted misinformation that endangers public health.

Titled “Misinformation in Alt Medicine: Newsroom as a Solution to the Ọgbanje Myth in Nigeria,” the study is an interview-based exploration of how journalists perceive, report on, and engage with audiences on issues surrounding SCD. The Ọgbanje belief, a cultural explanation that attributes recurrent child mortality or illness to spiritual reincarnation, has contributed to health-related stigma and delayed treatment for individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease.

“This research is deeply personal. Growing up in southeastern Nigeria, I witnessed how the Ọgbanje myth shaped perceptions of illness. Sadly, many people lost their lives because myths prevailed over medical facts. Through this project, we hope to equip journalists with better strategies to confront damaging misinformation, especially misinformation about sickle cell disease,” Madu said.

The study will examine newsroom practices, ethical challenges, and audience engagement around health reporting, particularly in rural and underserved communities. It also aims to highlight how media professionals can serve as change agents in contexts where cultural beliefs and public health intersect.

The highly competitive Easton Collaborative Research Award provides monetary support for select projects that demonstrate academic rigor and public impact. Madu’s selection was announced by the journalism school in a post shared to its official Twitter account, stating: “@UgochukwuCFR received an Easton award to support his project. Congratulations Ugo!”