The use of indigenous communication media for children's vaccination and immunization promotion in rural communities of Abia State, Nigeria

Background: In Nigeria, child survival is threatened by vaccine-preventable diseases, and routine immunization services do not reach many children, especially those living in rural communities. The non-use of indigenous communication has been identified as one of the barriers preventing immunization coverage and acceptance by mothers of children. Aims and Objectives: This study investigated the use of indigenous communication media for immunization promotion among mothers in rural communities of Abia State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Using a descriptive survey design, the study was anchored on the development communication theory. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 394 participants across 10 rural communities in Abia State. A validated closed-ended questionnaire was used for the data collection and data were analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics at P < 0.05. Results: The findings showed that 53.8%, 25.6%, and 20.6% of the participants averred that indigenous communication media played the role of immunization information dissemination, reminder, and reinforcement, respectively. Most (73.6%) of the respondents opined that indigenous communication media are highly relevant in informing rural dwellers about immunization programs while 50.0% believed that the use of traditional media should complement health workers' efforts during health promotion and education on vaccination and immunization. The town crier was the most utilized indigenous communication media (89.3%). There was a statistically significant relationship between the use of indigenous media and vaccination/immunization communication (P = 0.001). Conclusion: This study revealed that indigenous communication media is crucial for the promotion of children's vaccination and immunization in rural communities. It is important that for effective health promotion efforts toward reaching rural dwellers, the use of indigenous communication media should be encouraged

Use of polycross technique in the development of sweetpotato hybrid lines for resource-poor farming systems

No Abstract.Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7 (1) 2008: pp.201-20