This thesis aims to study the effectiveness of the messages of Oagu Addis RadiornProgram in combating HIV / AIDS among the youth. In doing so, an attempt has beenrnmade to identify key messages related to HIV / AIDS, explore the message designrnmethods of the program, analyze the message delivery techniques of the programrnrelated to communication theories and assess perception of the target audiencerntowards messages of Oagu Addis Radio Program.rnThe nature of the research methodology employed in this study is qualitative. In-depthrninterviews with key informants, focus group discussions with youths and contentrnanalysis were used as instruments to gather data. Six focus group discussions, fourrnwith in-school and two out-of-school youths were conducted. In-depth interviews werernalso conducted with parents of the youth, Oagu Radio Program producers as well asrnmedia and communications professionals.rnCapturing and maintaining the attention of the audience, clarity of the message,rnperception of risk, good evidence of costs and benefits of a behavior and asking thernaudience to take reasonably easy actions are some of the major criteria used to see therneffectiveness of the messages.rnThe findings of the study show that Oagu Addis is able to capture and maintain thernattention of its target audience and enables to minimize their perception of risk aboutrnHIV / AIDS. The findings of the study also reveal that the radio program in its messagesrngive good evidence of the cost and benefits of a behavior through running personalrnstories of the youth who practice negative behaviors on one hand and those who adoptrnpositive behaviors on the other hand. As to actions the messages ask from thernaudience to adopt healthy behavior, it was found out that the actions required arernsimple and do not require much cost in terms of time, effort and money.rnThe thesis concludes that messages of Oagu Addis Radio Program create opportunityrnfor the audience to think about the risk of contracting of HIV and increase thernlikelihood of experiencing appropriate changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviorrnneeded for HIV prevention. Moreover, from the findings of the study, it can bernconcluded that Oagu Addis in its messages recommends actions which can easily berntaken by its target audience so as to increase audience confidence that the behavior isrneasy to perform. This implies that Oagu Addis messages carry recommended actionsrnthat have a tendency to promote healthy behaviors. It is also possible to conclude thatrnOagu Addis Radio is successful in providing evidence of risks and benefits for adoptingrnrecommended.rnIn general, it is possible to conclude that though Oagu Addis Radio helps enhancernyouth's perception of risk to HIV / AIDS.