An Assessment of Effectiveness of Radio Sunset Campaigns to Mitigate Malaria in Homabay County

Abstract

“This study investigated the role of community radio in mass media campaigns to mitigate malaria in Homabay County. Therefore, the importance of community radio campaign messages on public health cannot be stressed enough. In this respect, community radio is key in complementing government efforts to create malaria awareness among the affected communities. This would enable the government to embark on processes that would eradicate malaria and other preventable diseases in the country. To assist in the research to find out whether community radio is adequately utilized for campaigns in public health, the researcher interviewed staff at the Radio Sunset - a community radio station based in the county. The staff interviewed decried lack of cooperation between health workers and the journalists when it comes to malaria awareness. A questionnaire was administered for quantitative data and structured questions for key informants. 113 respondents from a sample size of 394 was collected using Taro Yamane’s statistical formula. Interviews were also conducted with 10 identified key informants. Primary data gathered was from the population living in Central Ward in Homabay Town Constituency. Secondary data relied on documents from health facilities and the relevant government offices, including from similar academic works done earlier. Data was analysed using tables, pie charts and bar charts. The study concluded that whereas radio has a wider reach and is also an important tool to disseminate public health awareness messages, community radio stations are faced with challenges. The stations are not profit making media houses hence, rely solely on well- wishers and/or individuals for funding. Sunset Radio staff we interviewed acknowledged that there were no specific slots for malaria programmes in their programming schedules. The study observed that Dholuo is the preferred language spoken and understood by majority of residents in the county. Therefore, they criticized public health promoters for not involving public participation even in their local spoken language to create public awareness on their health. Public health promoters also charged county residents for not adhering to lay down public health guidelines. The study therefore, recommends; firstly, suitable use of community radio to reach a large number of area residents for malaria awareness. Secondly, that the Ministry of Health sponsors malaria programmes on community radio stations in Homabay County to mitigate malaria cases to avoid further loss of life”.