Radio As A Vehicle For Improving Health Habit Among Rural Dwellers
Abstract
This study was carried out on the role of radio as a vehicle for improving health habit among rural dwellers in Nigeria using communities in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State as a case study. The study was specifically carried out to ascertain whether the radio serves as a significant tool for managing public health issues among rural dwellers; find out whether radio effectively disseminate health information to rural dwellers in Nigeria; find out if the radio helps to improve health knowledge of rural dwellers in Nigeria; determine whether the radio improves the health behaviour of rural dwellers in Nigeria; ascertain if radio help to improve the health practices of rural dwellers in Nigeria; and determine the extent the radio promotes a healthy style and health status of rural dwellers in Nigeria. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprised of residents of some selected communities in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 160 respondents and 141 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables, while the hypotheses was tested using Chi-square Statistical tool. The result of the findings reveals that the radio does promote a healthy style and health status of rural dwellers in Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended that News and program content need to be carefully sourced and tailored to ensure that listeners at the grassroots receive updated and accurate information about health matters. To mention but a few.
Aims and Objectives
The broad objective of this study is to examine the role of radio as a vehicle for improving health habit among rural dwellers in Nigeria. Specifically the study sought to:
- Ascertain whether the radio serves as a significant tool for managing public health issues among rural dwellers.
- Find out whether radio effectively disseminate health information to rural dwellers in Nigeria.
- Find out if the radio helps to improve health knowledge of rural dwellers in Nigeria.
- Determine whether the radio improves the health behaviour of rural dwellers in Nigeria
- Ascertain if radio help to improve the health practices of rural dwellers in Nigeria.
- Determine the extent the radio promotes a healthy style and health status of rural dwellers in Nigeria.
Research Questions
The study will be guided by the following questions;
- Does the radio serves as a significant tool for managing public health issues among rural dwellers?
- Does the radio effectively disseminate health information to rural dwellers in Nigeria.
- Does the radio help to improve health knowledge of rural dwellers in Nigeria?
- Does the radio improve the health behaviour of rural dwellers in Nigeria?
- Does the radio help to improve the health practices of rural dwellers in Nigeria?
- To what extent does the radio promote a healthy style and health status of rural dwellers in Nigeria?
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
The mass media, including community radio, have become critical in health promotion strategies worldwide (Thomas et al., 2018; Wilkinson, 2016). Previous studies show that the media is crucial in achieving health outcomes such as public education and enlightenment, changing attitudes, and influencing health behaviour (Ahmad and Murad, 2020; Mheidly and Fares, 2020; Wakefield et al., 2010) that could lead to social sustainability (Heras-Pedrosa et al., 2020). Apart from serving as communication channels for creating awareness about likely risks to public health, the media, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, can be critical to mobilising public response in the face of a public health crisis such as a pandemic (Adebisi et al., 2021; Ajilore et al., 2017; Olaoye and Onyenankeya, 2023). Furthermore, the media has proven effective in countering disinformation, breaking down myths and misconceptions that often obfuscate and limit the uptake of health messages (Ajilore et al., 2018).
It is believed that in Nigeria, the health services as currently organized show some defects. The defects are widely characterized by inadequate coverage. Consequently, the rural communities are not well provided with basic health facilities. Other problems facing the health sector includes the fact that the orientation of the services is not comprehensively catered for with a proportionate high investment in curative services to the detriment of preventive services. The management of the services of shown major weakness resulting in wastage and inefficiency of resources as shown in the failure to meet the target and goals set by World Health Organization (WHO).
Olaniyi (2008) believed these can achieved is through better enlightenment programme and health education. According to him, public enlightenment will help to persuade the people to accept measures that will improve their health and change their attitude. Over the years the rural communities have been neglected, while concentration has been in the major cities. Okoro et al (2015) maintain that the media are important stakeholders in the war against diseases. The ability of the mass media to reach a widely scattered, huge mass audience at the lowest cost possible makes them effective tools for health behaviour change communicators.
This is in line with the submission of Olaniyi (2008) who contended that radio is an effective method of promoting rural health behaviour and healthy living. According to Olaniyi, seventy eight percent of the household in the rural communities are positively influenced and the medium had influenced their disposition to living healthy lifestyle when compared with other media. Today, many radio health programmes are being aired in rural communities in Nigeria. Thus it becomes necessary to understand the role of radio as a vehicle for improving health habit among rural dwellers in Nigeria…..
Chapter Two: Literature Review
2.0 INTRODUCTION:
This chapter provides the background and context of the research problems, reviews the existing literature on the Radio As A Vehicle For Improving Health Habit Among Rural Dwellers, and acknowledges the contributions of scholars who have previously conducted similar research [REV75289] …
Table of Content
Abstract
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objective of the Study
1.4 Research Questions/Hypotheses
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Limitation of the Study
1.8 Definition of Terms
1.9 Organisations of the Study
Chapter Two: Review of Literature
2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Empirical Review
Chapter Three: Research Methodology
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of the Study
3.3 Sample Size Determination
3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure
3.5 Research Instrument and Administration
3.6 Method of Data Collection
3.7 Method of Data Analysis
3.8 Validity of the Study
3.9 Reliability of the Study
3.10 Ethical Consideration
Chapter Four: Data Presentation and Analysis
4.1 Data Presentation
4.2 Analysis of Data
4.3 Answering Research Questions
4.4 Test Of Hypotheses
Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
References
APPENDIX
QUESTIONNAIRE