Role Of Radio In The Management Of Environmental Health Issues

Radio is portable, accessible without electricity, relatively economical and almost universally available. Hence, this study assessed the role of radio in the management of environmental health issues in Dutse local government area of Jigawa State. Information diffusion Theory, Agenda setting theory and Development media theory served as theoretical Framework. The study adopted survey research method, while questionnaire was used as instrument. The findings showed that radio enabled listeners to be adequately informed about health issues. And this invariably improved their health consciousness. It was concluded that more needs to be done in order to improve access of the residents of Dutse local government to radio to gain more information on environmental health. The study therefore recommended among others that more studies on the use of radio in creating awareness on environmental health issues should be published. This indicates a need for more and deeper study in such area which will help inform and educate the public and set agenda for public debate about health topics.

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

Over the years, health and healthy well-being of human beings have been conceptualized in diverse ways. Health or healthy well-being of humans does not merely connote the absence of ailments and disease. Its sum total also encompasses the proper physical, mental and social functioning of human beings. Health is also influenced by socio-economic, cultural, environmental as well as hereditary factors (Wilson, 1970; WHO, 1978; Deliege, 1983). The attainment of healthy well-being by individuals, and the community at large, is therefore, a social concern because a society can function properly only when majority of its members are healthy enough to perform the tasks that sustains human society. In all historical epochs, human societies have evolved institutions, which provide health and medical services, prevent diseases, treat diseases whenever sickness occurs and promote overall health well-being of citizens (Calhoun, 1978).

Environmental health is rapidly becoming a focus area for clinicians, researchers, individuals, and communities aiming to investigate and mitigate exposures to harmful agents. Environmental health can be defined as "freedom from illness or injury related to toxic agents and other environmental conditions that are potentially detrimental to human health" (Pope, Snyder, & Mood, 2005). Ample studies continue to demonstrate that well-known environmental hazards such as tobacco smoke, motor vehicle emissions, and may lead to negative health effects with continued exposure. Furthermore, specific hazards such as asbestos, arsenic, and radon can be found in rural states and warrant additional concern for their potentially negative health effects. To help communicate the importance of real or potential environmental risks, medical professionals are generally accepted as an educated and trusted source to distribute this information (Miller & Solomon, 2003).

More specifically, the advent of radio has tremendously transformed the way information is disseminated. Prior to its invention, people most especially in primitive African society had their peculiar way of disseminating information such as the use of town criers and assembling people in strategic locations in the village such as market square to disseminate information to them. Colonial masters brought radio to ease their administration and ever since it has been to pass information from government to the citizen and people use it to disseminate social and religious programs because of its capability to reach large audience. Advancement in information and communication technology has brought other means of information dissemination such as television, internet, mobile phones, fax, telex, telegram among other (Ezekiel, 2014).

The radio is intensively employed in environmental health issues campaign. Vast sums are spent annually for resources and salaries that have gone into the production and dissemination of radio programs. Radio is employed at all levels of public health in the hope that three effects might occur: the learning of correct health information and knowledge, the changing of health attitudes and values and the establishment of new health behavior (Noar, 2006). Radio campaigns have long been a tool for promoting environmental health related issues.

Communication campaigns involving diverse topics and target audiences have been conducted for decades. Some reasons why information campaigns fail" is an early landmark in the literature. Exposure to such messages is, therefore, generally passive (Wakefield, 2010). Such campaigns are frequently competing with factors, such as pervasive product marketing, powerful social norms, and behaviours driven by addiction or habit. Radio campaigns have generally aimed primarily to change knowledge, awareness and attitudes, contributing to the goal of changing behaviour.

Jigawa state was considered appropriate for the study because of the expose of people to greater dangers of various health risk behaviours resulting from some cultural and traditional festivals like harvesting, Durbar festivals, Traditional wrestling events, wedding ceremonies, Turbaning ceremonies, Sallah festivals among others that lead to stress and substance consumption. During these festivals adolescents organize parties where various dangerous substances are used. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the role of radio in the management of environmental health issues in Dutse local government of Jigawa State.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Health is a fundamental dimension of well-being and a key component of human capital. Radio campaigns have generally aimed primarily to change knowledge, awareness and attitudes, contributing to the goal of changing behaviour. A health management system that meets the needs of a developing country like Nigeria presupposes a thorough understanding not only of the reasons why the present radio program system fails to deliver health issues to the people, but also the dynamic decision processes of households to which the radio health program ought to listen. Such a clear understanding will help in redefining the objectives of national mass media policy and those of the active players in the radio health program delivery system. Consequently upon this, the study tries to fill the gap in literature and geographical location by examining the role of radio in the management of environmental health issues in Dutse local government.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is to examine the role of radio in the management of environmental health issues in Dutse local government, Jigawa State.

The specific objectives of this study are to:

To determine the performance of radio in the dissemination of effective and qualitative methods of environmental health awareness campaign in Dutse local government, Jigawa State;

To investigate the listeners" opinion on the nature of cooperation between radio and health institutions as it concerns the dissemination of health issues.

To determine the problems encountered in accessing and reporting environmental health issues on radio at Dutse local government, Jigawa State.

1.4 Research Question

Based on the objectives of this study, the following questions were raise in order to guide the study.

To what extent does radio help in creating health awareness in Dutse local government?

What are the listeners" opinions on the nature of cooperation between radio and health institutions as it concerns dissemination of health issues?

What are the problems encountered in accessing and reporting environmental health issues on radio in Dutse local government, Jigawa State?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant because it will bring to the understanding of the reader the true position of radio in the management of environmental health issues in Dutse local government. However, the significance of this study cannot be overemphasized, considering the fact that rapid development of good health contribute immensely to the development of any nation. Upon completion, the study will add knowledge to students and other researchers, policy makers, citizens who can expand it by conducting research in the same field. The study will help to know how radio campaigns have usually been one element of broader health promotion programs with mutually reinforcing components. The study will help to Mobilize and support local agencies and professionals who have direct access to opinion leaders within the target population also bringing together partnerships of public, voluntary and private sector bodies and professional organizations.

The study will help to inform and educate the public, and also setting the agenda for public debate about the health topic, thereby modifying the climate of opinion surrounding through encouraging local and national policy changes so as to create a supportive environment within which people are more able to change their behaviour. The findings of this research work will be of great relevance to the following categories of people. The academics, this includes lecturers, teachers, researchers and students would find this study as a good reference material for related and further studies on this issue. The study will be beneficial to households and health service providers, in the sense that it tends to expose all forms of challenges and prospects they are likely to encounter with lack of good health.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study revolves around the role of radio in the management of environmenatal health issues. This study is limited to the role of radio in the management of environmental health in dutse local government, jigawa state all other places are excluded from this study. This study focuses on the three radio stations in Dutse local government which are New world FM, Freedom Radio and Andaza FM. Hence, all other radio stations are excluded from the study for proper delimitation. This story revolves around the four Health programmes in the three radio stations Lafiya Jari, Radio Doctor, Aikin Likita and Lafiyar iyali. All other programmes are excluded from this study.

1.7 Operational Definition of terms

For clarity of purpose comprehension, the main concepts used in this study were operationally defined.

The Role:

The impact of the media.

Media:

The electronic medium use in promoting social advancement and development in the society.

Radio:

Connected with rays, Radiation or Radioactivity.

Management:

A group of personality that are in charge of an organization.

Environmental:

Is place where people, plants and animal live.

Health:

Condition or quality of the human organism expressing the adequate functioning of the organism in a given condition, genetic or environmental.

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations

5.1 Limitation of Study

The major limitation involved in this work is the geographical location because it is not possible for the researcher to cover the entire Dutse local government, Jigawa state.

Also the researcher found it difficult to retrieve all the questionnaires administered on the respondents due to diversity of the respondents and there were also unwillingness from the respondents. It was also challenging having to combine academic work with this research. Thus it was not possible to carry out the research extensively as anticipated by the researcher.

5.2 Summary

The study explained and described , as well as analyzed the performance of radio in the dissemination of environmental health awareness campaign, to discuss the nature of cooperation between radio and health institution, and to determine the problems encountered in accessing and reporting environmental health issues.

The scope of the research focused on the residents of Dutse local government, Jigawa State.

Information diffusion theory, Agenda setting theory and Development media theory constitute the theoretical framework for this study. There is an extensive but logical review of relevant and related literature of the study with respect to the concept of Environmental Health, Concept of Development Communication, Major health issues in Nigeria and government health policies, Health situation in Jigawa State and Radio as a medium of promoting health education.

The research design used for this study was survey, while 200 copies of questionnaires were administered on residents of Dutse local government, Jigawa State but only 182 copies were retrieved. The data generated from the questionnaire were used for the analysis and presented in a tabular form and percentage method.

The major findings from this study are that residents of Dutse local government become aware of environmental health issues through radio, there is a good relationship between radio and health institutions, and they encounter some problems like poor radio signals among others in accessing information on environmental health issues.

5.3 Conclusion

Radio is considered as an effective tool to disseminate various forms of information and it is a powerful media for broadcasting information quickly. This research presents findings regarding the role of radio in the management of health issue. It was discovered in this study that residents of Dutse local government become informed on environmental health issues on radio. The study showed that there is a good relationship between health institutions and radio stations as it concerns disseminating information on environmental health issues as well as the problems the residents encounter in accessing such information.

These results are of relevance to mass media and health practitioners in general and those working with Dutse local government in particular since the study represent an attempt to discuss whether radio opportunities are taken advantage of. More needs to be done to improve access of the residents of Dutse local government to radio.

5.4 Recommendations

5. 4 .1 Recommendation to study- Specific Stakeholders

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are suggested:

More primary research studies are needed on the role of radio on the management of environmental health issues. In particular, evaluations from public health organizations using radio applications should be conducted and published.

Given the importance of radio in disseminating information, few studies on its use in creating awareness on environmental health issues have been published. This indicates a need for more and deeper study in such area which will help inform and educate the public and set agenda for public debate about health topics.

Credibility of Radio should be encouraged because presently, most radio stations programs are baseless and regular feedback from the listening public should be encouraged in other to know the views of listeners and programs should be designed to include environmental issues.

The development of universal practices documents is necessary to guide the evaluation of radio health campaigns, and to provide standardized criteria that can be compared uniformly across studies. Outcomes of interest include: the reach of radio health program campaigns and efficacy in facilitating behaviour change.

5.4.2 Recommendations for Further Studies

Further researchers should look into the following areas:

Research should be conducted on impact of radio on the attitude of listeners towards health consciousness.

Research should be done on the Effect of Radio on health issues and how it disseminates government health policies.

Researchers should replicate similar studies on other areas in Nigeria, so as to compare their findings with the results of this study.

Title page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Table of contents

Abstract

Chapter One:

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

1.2 Statement of the Problem

1.3 Objective of the Study

1.4 Research Questions

1.5 Significance of the Study

1.6 Scope of the Study

1.7 Operational definitions of terms

Chapter Two:

Theoretical Framework and Literature Review

2.1.0 Theoretical Framework

2.1.1 Information Diffusion Theory

2.1.2 Agenda-Setting Theory

2.1.3 The Development Media Theory

2.2.0 Conceptual Review

2.2.1 Concept of Environmental Health

2.2.2 Concept of Development Communication

2.2.3 Major Health Issues in Nigeria and Government Health Policies

2.2.4 Health Situation in Jigawa State

2.2.5 Radio as a Medium of Promoting Health Education

2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Method of the Study

3.1 Research Method

3.2 Population of the Study

3.3 Sample Size and Sampling Technique

3.4 Research Instrument

3.5 Validity of Research Instrument

3.6 Reliability of the Research Instrument

3.7 Method of Administration of the Research Instrument

3.8 Method of Data Analysis

Chapter Four:

Data Analysis and Result

4.1 Field Performance of the Research Instrument

4.2 Analyses of Data on the Research Questions

4.3 Discussion of Findings

Chapter Five:

Summary, Recommendation and Conclusion

5.1 Limitation of study

5.2 Summary

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendations

5.4.1 Recommendations to study-Specific Stakeholder

5.4.2 Recommendations for Further Studies

References

Appendix

• Impact Of Management Style Of Nagarta Radio On Reporters And Programmes Producers In The Station
• Effect Of Radio And Television Broadcast Campaign On The Management Of HIV/AIDS Crisis
• Effectiveness Of Radio Programmes As Tools Of Home Management
• Management And Administrative Effects And Mean Of Creating Awareness On Radio And Television For Beverages
• Radio Programme: A Tool For Effective Home Management
• Student Attendance Management System Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
• Establishment And Management Of A Private Radio-Diagnostic Centre

• Mass Communication Project Topics and Materials