https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/51 2026-05-15T12:08:48Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6154 Use of peer-education as an interpersonal communication channel in the voluntary medical male circumcision campaign to prevent HIV infections Otteng, Osir Behaviour change communication experts recognise peer-education as an important propeller of health communication owing to its ability to engender compliance through characteristic sharing. This study examines the utility of peer-based interpersonal communication channel in the voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) campaign to prevent HIV infections in Siaya County of Kenya. Siaya, predominantly inhabited by the traditionally non-circumcising Luo people, is among the five leading counties in HIV prevalence in Kenya, with 24.8% against the national average of 4.5%. Specifically, the study sought to establish the level of application of peer-education in relation to other IPC channels, and also determine the peer-education competence of those engaged in the VMMC campaign, both in terms of language proficiency and cultural literacy. Questionnaires were administered on 370 of the study location’s male residents aged 18-50 years; and on 35 VMMC service providers, mainly peer-educators. Two focus group discussions, each comprising five participants were conducted with male and female residents, and follow-up key informant interviews done with three officials of the VMMC implementing agencies. Results of quantitative data analysis are rendered in text and figures, while qualitative findings are presented verbatim. The findings show that peer-education is the most used IPC channel in the campaign, with varied degrees of application and efficacy. Inadequate peer-education-focused training for the programme’s communication team largely accounts for the campaign’s failure to realize 100% success. The study recommends targeted communication training for the peer-educators, as well as the engagement of communication experts as integral part of the VMMC programme. https://doi.org/10.57040/px9kpy55 2024-07-25T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5723 Media Exposure and Awareness Creation: Examination of a Vernacular Radio Health Programme on Type 2 Diabetes Misiani, Daniel Otieno; Nyambug, Charles Communication research has established a cause-effect relationship between amount of media exposure and audience awareness about issues in the society. Against this, different media programmes have been rolled out in an effort to help in combatting the scourge of non-communicable diseases. Among them is in Ramogi FM, a local radio station that broadcast „Miya Ngima programme which seeks to inform and educate its listeners on type 2 diabetes prevention among other diseases. Despite the existence of this programme, the disease prevalence seems to be on the rise coupled with low awareness levels within the area of study. This study, therefore, purposed to examine the efficacy Miya Ngima radio programme on awareness creation about type 2 diabetes prevention. McCombs and Shaw‟s (1972) Agenda-Setting Theory was used in the study. The study adopted descriptive and correlational research designs. Systematic random sampling was used to get 400 programme listeners. Purposive sampling was used to select 2 Miya Ngima programmes on type 2 diabetes and 1 Miya Ngima programme host. In collecting data from listeners and the programme host, questionnaires and structured interviews were used respectively. Coding sheets were used to obtain data from Miya Ngima programmes. The findings revealed that amount of audience exposure to Miya Ngima programme resulted in increased audience awareness about type 2 diabetes DOI: 10.36348/sjhss.2023.v08i04.004 2023-04-30T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5461 Important pillars in delivery of mass campaign messages to a target audience through earned media Omukule Emojong', Geoffrey Korir Over the years, the remits of different theoretical and policy discourses on media issues have dealt with how conventional forms of mass media are a crucial ingredient for effective media campaigns. They have marked and interrogated, in greater detail, how this essential role is augmented in today’s era through these traditional media’s adoption of digital technology. It is against this backdrop that a vast collection of research on mass media campaigns has been conducted across the world; however, many of these studies are seemingly suffused in how these campaigns are expended to enhance the behavior of a target audience positively and submerge or ignore in toto why some of them fail to realize the same. Given the persistent reality of how some of these campaigns are failing to achieve such desirable outcomes, primarily because of inadequate funding that leads to their inconsistent delivery installments, or absolute lack of it through the media, this brief article delves into how such campaigns can still be delivered despite this financial impediment. Based on a qualitative systematic review research design, it demonstrates how mass campaigns can be delivered successfully through earned media coverage. In light of this possibility, it is concluded that relevant institutions seeking to deliver mass campaign messages should do so, at the very outset, by creating an enabling environment for such coverage to ensue. It is argued that such an environment will be realized if these institutions build a sustained series of events and news conferences specifically geared towards availing the campaign content for dissemination to a target audience at an affordable cost. https://doi.org/10.57040/asshj.v3i1.113 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5448 Fear-arousing persuasive communication and behaviour change: Covid-19 in Kenya Omukule Emojong' With the absence of immunological, pharmacological or any other known medical interventions, the change in norms, behaviour and attitude of the public remains the only possible way that may be considered for prevention and suppression of COVID-19. This disease, which has morphed into a global pandemic, has mobilized outrageous outpouring action worldwide. Despite international and local media attention coupled with overwhelming new facts replete with misinformation and disinformation on COVID-19 from many channels; including interpersonal and social media, efforts to scale up control measures have yielded mixed results. The government and Kenyan media have reported several cases in which the public and leaders flouted these measures thus putting themselves at risk of contracting or spreading the virus. The overarching question is: does fear-arousing communication really matter in behaviour change particularly during a global pandemic of the magnitude of COVID-19? This qualitative study therefore examined the effects of COVID-19 messages on health behaviour change among residents living in the Municipality of Busia, one of the towns that have recorded the highest incidences of confirmed COVID-19 cases as informed by the Extended Parallel Process and Health Belief behavioural change models. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were carried out to establish threat and coping appraisal as a result of COVID-19 messages received from different sources. The study employed a risk behaviour diagnosis assessment that focused on two components of health risk messages, that is, threat and recommended response that addresses efficacy issues. This study found out that despite universal knowledge of COVID-19 and prevention methods, perceived threat especially perceived vulnerability to the virus was low due to misinformation, disinformation and disjointed communication. The article can be accessed in full via:https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/intellect/jams/2021/00000013/00000002/art00005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/jams_00043_1 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5447 Communicating Through Service Charter to Enhance Delivery of Immigration Services in Kenya Osir Otteng, Juliet Jagero This study sought to establish the role played by communication in the on-going reform programmes in Kenya’s public sector and, particularly, in the immigration department. In particular, it has investigated the function of the service charter as a communication tool and guide to staff in service delivery. To interrogate the above issues, the study focused on employees (service providers). Up to 50 frontline staff, including immigration officers, immigration clerks and others in the operational cadres, were selected through a simple random sampling procedure. Further, an interview schedule, with one senior official of the department, was conducted to obtain in-depth information on the topic under investigation. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze the data collected from the study. All the service providers know the charter exists and almost all know the promises it makes to the customers and timelines therein. But a considerable number of the staff at the operational cadre do not use the charter as a reference point for service delivery. Nearly all employees on this cadre say they were not involved in the planning and formulation processes of the service charter nor have they been trained on implementations. The study concludes that because of lack of involvement of the operational employees in the formulation of the charter, there is lack of ownership on their part and few use the charter as reference point in service provision. For the same reason, the charter has barely influenced their behaviour and attitude in service provision. Lack of a comprehensive communication policy and a clear communication strategy in the department and in the government at large is a major hindrance to reforms. The article can be accessed in full via:https://ideas.repec.org/a/rss/jnljms/v3i2p5.html 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5446 The Significance of Livelihood Support Projects to Health Communication Strategies in Resource-deprived Settings: A Look at the Medical Male Circumcision Programme in Siaya County, Kenya Osir Otteng, Michael Kiptoo, Peres Wenje Behaviour change communicators and health experts often assume that individual beliefs and perceptions hold the key to explaining health behaviours, thereby ignoring the extraneous constraints that obtain in the individual’s environment. Access to basic resources, such as food clothing and shelter, can be central to developing an understanding for health transactions, particularly in severely resource-deprived populations found in rural and informal urban dwellings, where basic survival at times overrides all other considerations. In such situations, specific livelihood improvement programmes targeting the intended beneficiaries and other key players in a given health intervention could be an incentive for the adoption and uptake of the intervention. This study examined the possible effects of socio-economic incentives to complement communication campaigns to improve the uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) for the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Siaya County of Kenya. Using multi-stage sampling, we purposively selected two sub-counties, Bondo and Rarieda, from where, using the snowball technique, we drew a sample of 370 male residents aged 18 to 49 years, mainly from the fish landing areas of the two sub-counties. We conducted two focus group discussions with men and women residents, besides in-depth interviews with five managers of the programme. Results were drawn from direct and indirect questions touching on socio-economic issues covered in the qualitative and quantitative research instruments and from anecdotal evidence. We found that, besides conventional prevention and treatment programmes, combating HIV/AIDS through VMMC in low-income populations requires reasonable investment in economic assistance to the intended beneficiaries of VMMC and those with the potential to influence their decision. These activities should be integrated in the wider programme implementation spectrum with clear structures that serve as entry points for health message delivery points 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5445 Barriers to Interpersonal Communication as a Tool for Improving the Uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in Siaya County, Kenya Osir Otteng, Peres Wenja, Michael Kiptoo Despite its acknowledged importance in health management, particularly when dealing with such sensitive issues that transcend the boundaries of health as sexuality, stigma and discrimination, there is little research on the efficacy of interpersonal communication (IPC) in health programmes in Kenya. Consequently, little is documented on barriers to IPC in the implementation of health interventions. We examined specific potential barriers to IPC as an integral device in the implementation of the voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programme in Siaya, Kenya. We used a mixed-methods sequential cross-sectional research design, and the multi-stage sampling technique – combining purposive and chain referral sampling procedures to arrive at the desired samples. Two questionnaires were administered on 370 male residents of Bondo and Rarieda in Siaya; and on 35 implementers of the programme in the two sub-counties. Further, we interviewed five managers from the implementing agencies. We used descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse quantitative data, and presented the findings through text and tables, while qualitative data were analysed through the description, analysis and interpretation process. The findings show time constraints as a significant barrier chiefly from the viewpoint of the operational staff, who admitted lacking time for meaningful interactions with their clients to fully explain issues raised for desired mutual understanding. Culture, in its various forms, has a significant negative cross-cutting bearing on provider-client interactions, while provider-client language difference, coupled with service providers’ attitude and jargons had a potential negative effect on the VMMC programme’s final outcome, at least from the clients’ perspective. We recommend full integration of IPC in healthcare management. Communication training should be accorded its due prominence, both in terms of scope and depth, in all heath training institutions. We further vouch for service provider cultural competence to enhance understanding. IPC can play a crucial role in healthcare management in Kenya due to its ability to facilitate important provider-client transaction, particularly in the largely oral rural resource-deprived populations, which lack adequate access to mass communication media. This study has discussed a raft of potential barriers to IPC, and provides significant insights to planners and managers of management of health programmes and interventions 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/4991 Employees’ Perception on Internal Communication during Unrest in Public Universities in Western Kenya Samuel Aron Issak Public universities in Kenya have experienced recurrent employees’ unrest which could be as a result of ineffective internal communication between the university and its employees. During crisis, effective internal communication is vital as it is the only way the organization and employees can dialogue and stop the crisis. Despite vast research on organizational internal communication, literature on employees’ perception on internal communication during unrest in Kenyan public universities during unrest is deficient. Data was collected by means of questionnaires and FGDs among 374 employees and 114 union officials respectively. The findings revealed that the employees felt that during unrest there are no sufficient internal communication channels, and opportunities within the organization to give suggestions. Moreover, the study ascertained that the organizations do not support two-way communication between employees and management during unrest. The other finding was that during unrest the information employees got from their organization was unreliable and untimely. Therefore, the employees are largely dissatisfied with the internal communication between them and the organizations they work for during unrest. DOI: 10.36349/easjhcs.2021.v03i05.001 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/4908 Establishing Internal Communication Channels Preferred by the Employees of Public Universities in Western Kenya during Unrest Ali M.A., Nyambuga C., Yakub A Public universities in Kenya have experienced recurrent employees unrest which could be as a result of ineffective internal communication between the university and its employees. During crisis, effective internal communication is vital as it is the only way the organization and employees can dialogue and stop the crisis. Despite vast research on organizational internal communication literature on employees preferred internal communication channels in Kenyan public universities during unrest is lacking. Data was collected by means of questionnaires and FGDs among 374 employees and 114 union officials respectively. The findings revealed that most preferred mode of communication by the employees was staff WhatsApp platform (51.7%). The study recommended that the management of public universities should integrate existing internal communication channels with staff WhatsApp. 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/4704 Role Of Dholuo FM Radio Programmes In Flood Warning In West Nyakach Division, Kenya Ali Molly Anyango, Charles Nyambuga,Yakub Adams Flooding is an uncertain phenomenon thus advance warning, evacuation and flood control are effective and sustainable methods of reducing the devastation caused by floods. Raising awareness and preparing the population in general to respond to natural disaster such as floods, should be a crucial task for the mass media. A report by Kenya Red Cross (2012) indicated that 5000 people suffer the effects of floods every year in Nyakach District in Kenya, and the damage is estimated at 49 million. The recurrence of floods seems to be an indicator of lack of knowledge on the flood risk management in West Nyakach. This study focused on the vernacular radio programmes offered by two Dholuo Radio stations; Radio Ramogi & Radio Lake Victoria, these stations offer a forum for the listeners to call radio station directly and discuss issues related to risk management. The study was guided by the Uses and Gratification Theory (Blumler and Katz 1974). 150 homesteads, two radio programmes managers and one area chief constituted the sample for the study. Data were collected using questionnaires and oral interview. The findings revealed that, majority of residents listened to radio broadcast in Dholuo and received flood warning over the radio, they also depend on radio for flood warnings which seemed timely. Though most of the residents did not respond positively to early flood warning. http://www.ijiras.com/2017/Vol_4-Issue_11/paper_48.pdf 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z