An evaluation of women's perceptions on the use of radio in family planning communication in rural Kenya. A survey of the Kisii County, Kisii Central district
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Date
2011Author
Asiago, Geoffrey N
Type
ThesisLanguage
en_USMetadata
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The main objective of this study was to investigate whether use of radio in family planning communication can influence women in uptake of family planning services in Kisii county, which is regarded in this study as representing women from rural Kenya. The Kisii population is rapidly growing thanks to high birth rate per woman, to an extent that resources are strained and land fragmentation has become severe that; yields are minimal and unsatisfactory to the local population. Radio is a traditional communication medium often preferred due its portability, accessibility and capacity to broadcast in local vernacular languages.
The use of radio in family planning communication in Kisii is therefore important to address the high unmet need among the women in Kisii for family planning services. As evident from the research findings, most women in Kisii want to delay child bearing or even limit child bearing but do not use any modem family planning method. The findings show that the present radio messages are more commercial and advertorial than educational. Indeed, the results show that the National Coordinating Agency for Population and Development, (NCAPD), has no official policy for use of radio for family planning communication.
To help achieve the objectives of the study, I used the theory of Diffusion of Innovations and Uses and Gratification theory. The assumption being that family planning methods are innovations themselves and their adoption closely follow the diffusion curve. The motivation behind women's choice of a given radio channel and program at a given time is assumed to be influenced by the satisfaction each draws from them. To achieve the study objectives, the study used both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 251 women aged between 15 - 49 on various issues among them their choice of radio station, whether they ever heard family planning messages on radio and whether they can be influenced by radio messages in uptake of family planning method.
Key informant interviews were also conducted ,with Dr. Samuel Ogola, programs officer at NCAPD, Dr. Geoffrey Otomu, medical superintendent Kisii level five hospital, and one focus group discussion with women nurses from family planning clinic at Kisii level five to provide qualitative data that was important in formulating recommendations to policy makers and reinforce validity of questionnaire results. The study findings show that women in the Kisii county have a strong favorable attitude and ~ perception on use of radio for family planning communication. Over 80% of women respondents stated that they can be influenced by radio messages in making family planning choice.
Publisher
University of Nairobi, Kenya