2 research outputs found
Engaging media in communicating research on sexual and reproductive health and rights in sub-Saharan Africa: experiences and lessons learned
Background: The mass media have excellent potential to promote good sexual and reproductive health
outcomes, but around the world, media often fail to prioritize sexual and reproductive health and rights issues or
report them in an accurate manner. In sub-Saharan Africa media coverage of reproductive health issues is poor
due to the weak capacity and motivation for reporting these issues by media practitioners. This paper describes
the experiences of the African Population and Health Research Center and its partners in cultivating the interest
and building the capacity of the media in evidence-based reporting of reproductive health issues in sub-Saharan
Africa.
Methods: The paper utilizes a case study approach based primarily on the personal experiences and reflections of
the authors (who played a central role in developing and implementing the Centerâs communication and policy
engagement strategies), a survey that the Center carried out with science journalists in Kenya, and literature review.
Results: The African Population and Health Research Centerâs media strategy evolved over the years, moving
beyond conventional ways of communicating research through the media via news releases and newspaper
stories, to varying approaches that sought to inspire and build the capacity of journalists to do evidence-based
reporting of reproductive health issues. Specifically, the approach included 1) enhancing journalistsâ interest in and
motivation for reporting on reproductive health issues through training and competitive grants for outstanding
reporting ; 2) building the capacity of journalists to report reproductive health research and the capacity of
reproductive health researchers to communicate their research to media through training for both parties and
providing technical assistance to journalists in obtaining and interpreting evidence; and 3) establishing and
maintaining trust and mutual relationships between journalists and researchers through regular informal meetings
between journalists and researchers, organizing field visits for journalists, and building formal partnerships with
professional media associations and individual journalists.
Conclusion: Our experiences and reflections, and the experiences of others reviewed in this paper, indicate that a
sustained mix of strategies that motivate, strengthen capacity of, and build relationships between journalists and
researchers can be effective in enhancing quality and quantity of media coverage of research
Operationalising sexual and reproductive health and rights in sub-Saharan Africa: constraints, dilemmas and strategies
BACKGROUND: The continued poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa highlight the difficulties in reforming policies and laws, and implementing effective programmes. This paper uses one international and two national case studies to reflect on the challenges, dilemmas and strategies used in operationalising sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in different African contexts. METHODS: The international case study focuses on the progress made by African countries in implementing the African Unionâs Maputo Plan of Action (for the Operationalisation of the Continental Policy Framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights) and the experiences of state and non-state stakeholders in this process. The case was developed from an evaluation report of the progress made by nine African countries in implementing the Plan of Action, qualitative interviews exploring stakeholdersâ experiences and perceptions of the operationalisation of the plan (carried out as part of the evaluation) in Botswana and Nigeria, and authorsâ reflections. The first national case study explores the processes involved in influencing Ghanaâs Domestic Violence Act passed in 2007; developed from a review of scientific papers and organisational publications on the processes involved in influencing the Act, qualitative interview data and authorsâ reflections. The second national case study examines the experiences with introducing the 2006 Sexual Offences Act in Kenya, and it is developed from organisational publications on the processes of enacting the Act and a review of media reports on the debates and passing of the Act. RESULTS: Based on the three cases, we argue that prohibitive laws and governmentsâ reluctance to institute and implement comprehensive rights approaches to SRH, lack of political leadership and commitment to funding SRHR policies and programmes, and dominant negative cultural framing of womenâs issues present the major obstacles to operationalising SRH rights. Analysis of successes points to the strategies for tackling these challenges, which include forming and working through strategic coalitions, employing strategic framing of SRHR issues to counter opposition and gain support, collaborating with government, and employing strategic opportunism. CONCLUSION: The strategies identified show future pathways through which challenges to the realisation of SRHR in Africa can be tackled