Representations of HIV Positive Persons in Print Media: Life 101 Comic Book in Focus

The main objective of the study was to analyze how print media represented HIV positive persons. To do that, the researcher purposively selected Life 101 comic book which was prepared and distributed to almost all Ethiopian universities to create awareness and to educate universities’ students about HIV/AIDS. All episodes, 31, of the comic book were considered for the analysis. Besides, qualitative content analysis was employed to analyze the data gathered from the comic book. The analysis of comic book divulged that HIV positive persons were represented as persons who were sick, dependable, hopeless, loneliness, and worthless. In addition, they were represented as persons who were in crisis and who are dead or lifeless. Such negative representations of HIV positive persons in print media could adversely affect those who are already positive of HIV. Thus, it is recommended that print media’s messages should be well -designed to avoid unnecessary stigma and discrimination.