Employing Communication Strategies as Tools for Eradicating Open Defecation in Rural Areas in Southwest Nigeria
| dc.contributor.author | Talabi, Felix | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-09-10T13:08:27Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-09-10T13:08:27Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022-09 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The consensus among health and development communication scholars is that various communication strategies and approaches can promote public health awareness. The scholars also argue that for attitudinal change to ensue, activities must be built around people’s capacity to contribute and participate actively in the transformation process. With only Ifedayo local government area (LGA) of Osun State declared open defecation-free by UNICEF in Southwest Nigeria, it is crucial to interrogate the communication approach used to achieve this feat. A survey was conducted on 391 respondents in twelve wards of the LGA, and an interview conducted with the director of the LGA’s Water and Environmental Sanitation department. Findings revealed that the state’s radio station was used to create awareness on the dangers of open defecation and mobilize people to build toilet facilities. The agency also used dialogue and other forms of interpersonal communication strategies to educate and enforce compliance. The paper concluded that radio is a medium of awareness and knowledge in behavioral change communication-related issues. Such changes would only occur if interpersonal channels are combined to elicit change in the people. For effective communication strategies, stakeholders must be sincerely committed to the "Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet" campaign objectives. The findings of the study recommend that for an end to open defecation in southwest Nigeria, relevant agencies, particularly, Water and Environmental Sanitation departments, should adopt integrated communication strategies with more emphasis on dialogue than force. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | 10.31920/2516-2713/2022/5n3a3 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repository.run.edu.ng/handle/123456789/4158 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Journal of African films and Diaspora Studies (JAFDIS) | |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | 5; 3 | |
| dc.title | Employing Communication Strategies as Tools for Eradicating Open Defecation in Rural Areas in Southwest Nigeria | |
| dc.type | Article |