dc.description.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”. | en_US |