This study has investigated the perception of digital media influence in awareness creation on
maternal health amongst rural women in Minna, Nigeria. Survey questionnaire was administered to a sample
of 384 respondents randomly drawn from a population of 96,886. The response was 99.2%. Findings reveal
that 109(28.61%) of the respondents rural women in Minna metropolis were very much exposed to maternal
health information on digital media with (Mean=4.14), while WhatsApp group 111(29.13%) (Mean=4.09),
whereas 107(28.08%) with (Mean= 3.88) were exposed to Internet discussion forum. However, discussion
forum and social networks appear to be the major sources of maternal health information among rural women
in Minna metropolis. Lack of local content on maternal health issues and inadequate relevant maternal health
information were revealed as the challenges to maternal health. The study recommends that digital media
should be effectively and efficiently used for maternal health improvement in Nigeria health centres.
This note focuses on the situation of COVID-19 in India and the government’s communication efforts during the pandemic. Based on MSC's research with low- and middle-income households, it highlights how these efforts can be strengthened through the adoption of a Social Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) campaign.
AIDSTAR-One Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Children Living with HIV in AfricaAIDSTAROne
An abbreviated version of the Equipping Parents and Health Providers to Address the Psychological and Social Challenges of Caring for Children Living with HIV in Africa report, this technical brief documents promising practices in critical services related to the psychological and social wellbeing of perinatally-infected children in Africa. These promising practices include the identification, testing, and counseling of children so that they are linked to appropriate care as early as possible, as well as on-going support to help children and their families manage disclosure, stigma, grief and bereavement processes.
www.aidstar-one.com/focus_areas/care_and_support/resources/technical_briefs/foundation_future
AIDSTAR-One Increasing Access to Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission S...AIDSTAROne
This technical report discusses the many services needed throughout the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and infant care services continuum and identifies potential barriers to service coverage, access, and utilization. AIDSTAR-One provides examples of evidence-based and emerging practices to mitigate these barriers.
www.aidstar-one.com/focus_areas/pmtct/resources/report/increasing_access_to_pmtct_services
This note focuses on the situation of COVID-19 in India and the government’s communication efforts during the pandemic. Based on MSC's research with low- and middle-income households, it highlights how these efforts can be strengthened through the adoption of a Social Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) campaign.
AIDSTAR-One Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Children Living with HIV in AfricaAIDSTAROne
An abbreviated version of the Equipping Parents and Health Providers to Address the Psychological and Social Challenges of Caring for Children Living with HIV in Africa report, this technical brief documents promising practices in critical services related to the psychological and social wellbeing of perinatally-infected children in Africa. These promising practices include the identification, testing, and counseling of children so that they are linked to appropriate care as early as possible, as well as on-going support to help children and their families manage disclosure, stigma, grief and bereavement processes.
www.aidstar-one.com/focus_areas/care_and_support/resources/technical_briefs/foundation_future
AIDSTAR-One Increasing Access to Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission S...AIDSTAROne
This technical report discusses the many services needed throughout the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and infant care services continuum and identifies potential barriers to service coverage, access, and utilization. AIDSTAR-One provides examples of evidence-based and emerging practices to mitigate these barriers.
www.aidstar-one.com/focus_areas/pmtct/resources/report/increasing_access_to_pmtct_services
Zero Mothers Die - Presentation to the Government of GhanaJeannine Lemaire
Zero Mothers Die was presented to the Government of Ghana and the UN system in Ghana on November 22, 2013. Ghana has been chosen as the first implementation country for Zero Mothers Die, a global multistakeholder partnership project focusing on improving maternal health through the systematic use of ICTs and mobile health.
Impediment to a Health Seeking Behaviour: an evaluation of Access to Reproduc...iosrjce
The study sort to evaluate the barriers to access to reproductive health services for women in
Matabeleland South. The study was premised on the Health Belief Model (HBM) formulated by Hochbaum,
Kegees, Leventhal and Rosenstockof 1974 cited in Chiremba and Maunganidze (2004). They propound that the
HBM has 3 main components, namely individual factors, modifying factors and likelihood of action. They infer
that, an individual’s attitude determines how she/he engages in certain behaviour. Conducted over 21 days, the
study employed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The quantitative aspects included
questionnaires that were administered to women of child-bearing age and adolescent girls, whilst the
qualitative aspect involved secondary data review, facility assessment and focus group discussions. Purposive
and random sampling techniques were used to identify the ideal participants for the survey. The key findings
were that; Safe Motherhood was and is dependent on a lot of issues, some of which are, policies and systems,
resources (financial, material and human), community/departmental structures, infrastructure and mostly the
demography of the community including their attitudes, perceptions and beliefs. The study recommends removal
of barriers to access to health through: Resuscitation of the country’s strategy of having a health facility at
every 10 kilometre radius; Regular mobile clinics especially for reproductive health services and baby clinics to
resettlement areas that were pegged far from services; Resourcing of existing health facilities in terms of
human, material and financial resources and most of all; Change of policies, perceptions and practises that
hinder access to reproductive health services and attainment of basic health rights
Achievements and Implications of HIV Prevention of Mother-toChild Transmissio...QUESTJOURNAL
Background: Mother-to-child transmission is the predominant route through which children contract HIV and can be controlled through Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme. This paper presents programme activities on PMTCT conducted among women of reproductive age in Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: This intervention was carried out among women of reproductive age in eight local government areas of Plateau state. Seven civil society organizations were engaged and provided with funding by Plateau State Agency for the Control of AIDS under the HIV/AIDS fund (HAF) II. A total of 7460 women of reproductive age are the estimated sample size for this intervention and the minimum prevention package intervention was used for this project activities. Data were documented using various monitoring and evaluation tools and DHIS2 while analysis was carried out using Microsoft Excel. Results: The total number of community dialogues/advocacy held was 85 and a total of 1,437 people participated. Seventeen income generation activities were carried out in this intervention and 131 people benefitted from it. A total of 87,028 pieces of condom were distributed with majority (88.5%) being distributed in 2014. Only a total of 5606 women were counseled tested and received result and 44 (0.8%) were tested positive. A total of 3275 women were referred for antenatal care during this programme and more than half (52.0%) were referred in 2014. Conclusion: This intervention has been helpful in reducing the burden of HIV and AIDS among women of reproductive age in Plateau State. However, the coverage of minimum prevention package intervention was low. More needs to be done in terms of coverage in future programmes and the intervention should also be extended to other local government areas.
How do we Achieve Universal Access to Equitable Sanitation & Hygiene By 2030? Driving focus on behaviour change to ensure good hygiene practice and educate on self-sufficient practices to reduce the spread of preventable disease such as diarrhoea. A lead2030 Challenge Supported By Reckitt Benckiser (RB), A ONE YOUNG WORLD INITIATIVE FOR GLOBAL GOALS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. The SDGs are part of Resolution 70/1 of the United Nations General Assembly "Transforming our World the 2030 Agenda".
Knowledge and Practice of Family Planning by Women of Childbearing Age in Del...inventionjournals
The problem of rising population, caused by high fertility rates, low death rates and aggravated by low contraceptive practice has taken a frightening dimension in most developing nations, including Nigeria, hence different authors have voiced their concerns and advocated ways out of the dilemma as a means of having a better society by the practice of contraception. This study investigates the knowledge and practice of family planning by women of child bearing age in Delta State with a view of knowing the current status of family planning and making relevant policy recommendations to the State. The study adopted a quantitative approach using a descriptive survey design in a cross sectional study using 582 structured questionnaires. The result of the research indicate that the women in this study showed good attitude to family planning and have very high knowledge of family methods (93.2%) which tilted towards condom (91.3%), pills (72.3%), and injectables (64.2%) with relatively low contraceptive prevalence (31.2%), thus indicating a wide gap between knowledge and current usage promoted by expectations of side effects of family planning methods. The conclusion of the study was that women should be educated on the benefits of family planning as well as on more family planning methods by using sources identified in this study as a way of improving population control and enhancing the standard of lives of the women in Delta State and Nigeria
Assessment of women non formal educational empowerment programmDr. Mary Agbo
The study evaluated the administrative effectiveness of women non-formal educational empowerment program for women in the rural areas of Benue State. A descriptive survey method was employed in order to assess the impact of administration of the Program. Two types of data were collected for the study: primary and secondary data. The former was collected with the use of structured and unstructured questionnaires, interviews and participant observation; while the latter were derived from existing literature and document from the State Ministry of Education. The study findings indicated that the numbers of women who participated in the program increased annually. The program has recorded some success in the area of promotion of mass literacy; skill acquisition; and employment opportunities.
Effectiveness of Community based Interventions in Reducing Maternal Mortality...ObinnaOrjingene1
Background & Aim: Maternal mortality ratio for sub-Saharan Africa in 2010 was estimated to be about 600 per 100,000 live births, which is approximately higher than what is obtainable in advanced countries. To this end, several community-based interventions have been put in place by governments and developmental partners in the region to address the situation. This review aimed to seek evidence from existing literature on the level of effectiveness of these interventions in improving maternal health outcomes in the region. The literature search process resulted in retrieval of six full text studies that were written in English, published between 2000 and 2019 and were focused on intervention based at the community level which resulted in the reduction of maternal deaths in some sub-Saharan African countries. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool was used to critically review retrieved literature.
Findings: Findings from the articles reviewed show that community-based interventions with a direct reduction in maternal mortality were implemented in Ethiopia and Nigeria and were effective since maternal mortality declined by 64% and 43.5% respectively. Other community based interventions did not directly address the reduction in maternal mortality but rather addressed leading causes of maternal mortality such as home and unskilled birth attendance, low Ante-Natal Care (ANC) & Post-Natal Care (PNC) services utilization, Eclampsia, delay in accessing care and Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH). Such interventions were implemented in Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and were proved to be effective in reducing maternal mortality.
Conclusions and Recommendations: Based on the literatures reviewed, it was concluded that community based interventions were effective in reducing maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. The following recommendations were made based on gaps observed in the implementation of some interventions. Introduction of emergency transport scheme in countries where they do not exist as despite the existence of maternity waiting homes and dedicated maternity ambulances in Zambia, many expectant mothers still had difficulty reaching the health facilities in time to deliver, Engagement and training of more health workers so as to avoid human resources challenges that may be associated with increased demand for health facility deliveries.
Over the past decade, Kenya has made tremendous efforts to enhance maternal and child health. Secure maternity policies such as free maternity care are one of the initiatives that have enhanced maternal and child health in all public health facilities. Despite these attempts, public health facilities for maternal and child health are still underused. This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive study design to identify determinants of free maternal health services by evaluating factors determining perceptions and health-seeking behavior of 384 pregnant mothers in Malava Sub-County, Kakamega County. The study used a mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative approaches). Questionnaires were administered to pregnant mothers selected for the study. The study employed a purposive sampling of research participants. Quantitative data were collected using the questionnaire administered by the research assistants whereas qualitative data were collected by the researcher through interview schedules. Quantitative data analysis was carried out using SPSS 23. However, qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. Quantitative data representation was done in terms of frequency and percentages. Analysis of chi-square testing was used to assess the association between the variables of socio-economic and health facilities and the provision of free maternity facilities (p<0.05). The study established that the uptake of free maternal service by pregnant mothers was influenced by their level of primitivism and religious beliefs. In addition, this study found out that 53.8% and 77.7% of the pregnant mothers could not attend antenatal and post-natal care because government facilities were located far away from their residences and they also had less access to some information about free maternal health care. The results of this research would be disseminated to the hospital management team, Sub-Country health management team, County health management team, and other stakeholders, thereby demonstrating reasons for low uptake of free maternity services and helping to strategize for better service delivery. Based on the finding, the study recommends that to improve access to free maternal health care, the county government ought to place health services as close as possible to the community where people live. Secondly, there is a need to embrace the usage of the existing media network to sensitize pregnant mothers to the danger signs and the need to have decision-making powers over their safety. Lastly, hospital management ought to increase the awareness of free maternal health care and to include it among the community priorities during dialog days, action days, and other group discussions.
Zero Mothers Die - Presentation to the Government of GhanaJeannine Lemaire
Zero Mothers Die was presented to the Government of Ghana and the UN system in Ghana on November 22, 2013. Ghana has been chosen as the first implementation country for Zero Mothers Die, a global multistakeholder partnership project focusing on improving maternal health through the systematic use of ICTs and mobile health.
Impediment to a Health Seeking Behaviour: an evaluation of Access to Reproduc...iosrjce
The study sort to evaluate the barriers to access to reproductive health services for women in
Matabeleland South. The study was premised on the Health Belief Model (HBM) formulated by Hochbaum,
Kegees, Leventhal and Rosenstockof 1974 cited in Chiremba and Maunganidze (2004). They propound that the
HBM has 3 main components, namely individual factors, modifying factors and likelihood of action. They infer
that, an individual’s attitude determines how she/he engages in certain behaviour. Conducted over 21 days, the
study employed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The quantitative aspects included
questionnaires that were administered to women of child-bearing age and adolescent girls, whilst the
qualitative aspect involved secondary data review, facility assessment and focus group discussions. Purposive
and random sampling techniques were used to identify the ideal participants for the survey. The key findings
were that; Safe Motherhood was and is dependent on a lot of issues, some of which are, policies and systems,
resources (financial, material and human), community/departmental structures, infrastructure and mostly the
demography of the community including their attitudes, perceptions and beliefs. The study recommends removal
of barriers to access to health through: Resuscitation of the country’s strategy of having a health facility at
every 10 kilometre radius; Regular mobile clinics especially for reproductive health services and baby clinics to
resettlement areas that were pegged far from services; Resourcing of existing health facilities in terms of
human, material and financial resources and most of all; Change of policies, perceptions and practises that
hinder access to reproductive health services and attainment of basic health rights
Achievements and Implications of HIV Prevention of Mother-toChild Transmissio...QUESTJOURNAL
Background: Mother-to-child transmission is the predominant route through which children contract HIV and can be controlled through Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme. This paper presents programme activities on PMTCT conducted among women of reproductive age in Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: This intervention was carried out among women of reproductive age in eight local government areas of Plateau state. Seven civil society organizations were engaged and provided with funding by Plateau State Agency for the Control of AIDS under the HIV/AIDS fund (HAF) II. A total of 7460 women of reproductive age are the estimated sample size for this intervention and the minimum prevention package intervention was used for this project activities. Data were documented using various monitoring and evaluation tools and DHIS2 while analysis was carried out using Microsoft Excel. Results: The total number of community dialogues/advocacy held was 85 and a total of 1,437 people participated. Seventeen income generation activities were carried out in this intervention and 131 people benefitted from it. A total of 87,028 pieces of condom were distributed with majority (88.5%) being distributed in 2014. Only a total of 5606 women were counseled tested and received result and 44 (0.8%) were tested positive. A total of 3275 women were referred for antenatal care during this programme and more than half (52.0%) were referred in 2014. Conclusion: This intervention has been helpful in reducing the burden of HIV and AIDS among women of reproductive age in Plateau State. However, the coverage of minimum prevention package intervention was low. More needs to be done in terms of coverage in future programmes and the intervention should also be extended to other local government areas.
How do we Achieve Universal Access to Equitable Sanitation & Hygiene By 2030? Driving focus on behaviour change to ensure good hygiene practice and educate on self-sufficient practices to reduce the spread of preventable disease such as diarrhoea. A lead2030 Challenge Supported By Reckitt Benckiser (RB), A ONE YOUNG WORLD INITIATIVE FOR GLOBAL GOALS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. The SDGs are part of Resolution 70/1 of the United Nations General Assembly "Transforming our World the 2030 Agenda".
Knowledge and Practice of Family Planning by Women of Childbearing Age in Del...inventionjournals
The problem of rising population, caused by high fertility rates, low death rates and aggravated by low contraceptive practice has taken a frightening dimension in most developing nations, including Nigeria, hence different authors have voiced their concerns and advocated ways out of the dilemma as a means of having a better society by the practice of contraception. This study investigates the knowledge and practice of family planning by women of child bearing age in Delta State with a view of knowing the current status of family planning and making relevant policy recommendations to the State. The study adopted a quantitative approach using a descriptive survey design in a cross sectional study using 582 structured questionnaires. The result of the research indicate that the women in this study showed good attitude to family planning and have very high knowledge of family methods (93.2%) which tilted towards condom (91.3%), pills (72.3%), and injectables (64.2%) with relatively low contraceptive prevalence (31.2%), thus indicating a wide gap between knowledge and current usage promoted by expectations of side effects of family planning methods. The conclusion of the study was that women should be educated on the benefits of family planning as well as on more family planning methods by using sources identified in this study as a way of improving population control and enhancing the standard of lives of the women in Delta State and Nigeria
Assessment of women non formal educational empowerment programmDr. Mary Agbo
The study evaluated the administrative effectiveness of women non-formal educational empowerment program for women in the rural areas of Benue State. A descriptive survey method was employed in order to assess the impact of administration of the Program. Two types of data were collected for the study: primary and secondary data. The former was collected with the use of structured and unstructured questionnaires, interviews and participant observation; while the latter were derived from existing literature and document from the State Ministry of Education. The study findings indicated that the numbers of women who participated in the program increased annually. The program has recorded some success in the area of promotion of mass literacy; skill acquisition; and employment opportunities.
Effectiveness of Community based Interventions in Reducing Maternal Mortality...ObinnaOrjingene1
Background & Aim: Maternal mortality ratio for sub-Saharan Africa in 2010 was estimated to be about 600 per 100,000 live births, which is approximately higher than what is obtainable in advanced countries. To this end, several community-based interventions have been put in place by governments and developmental partners in the region to address the situation. This review aimed to seek evidence from existing literature on the level of effectiveness of these interventions in improving maternal health outcomes in the region. The literature search process resulted in retrieval of six full text studies that were written in English, published between 2000 and 2019 and were focused on intervention based at the community level which resulted in the reduction of maternal deaths in some sub-Saharan African countries. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool was used to critically review retrieved literature.
Findings: Findings from the articles reviewed show that community-based interventions with a direct reduction in maternal mortality were implemented in Ethiopia and Nigeria and were effective since maternal mortality declined by 64% and 43.5% respectively. Other community based interventions did not directly address the reduction in maternal mortality but rather addressed leading causes of maternal mortality such as home and unskilled birth attendance, low Ante-Natal Care (ANC) & Post-Natal Care (PNC) services utilization, Eclampsia, delay in accessing care and Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH). Such interventions were implemented in Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and were proved to be effective in reducing maternal mortality.
Conclusions and Recommendations: Based on the literatures reviewed, it was concluded that community based interventions were effective in reducing maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. The following recommendations were made based on gaps observed in the implementation of some interventions. Introduction of emergency transport scheme in countries where they do not exist as despite the existence of maternity waiting homes and dedicated maternity ambulances in Zambia, many expectant mothers still had difficulty reaching the health facilities in time to deliver, Engagement and training of more health workers so as to avoid human resources challenges that may be associated with increased demand for health facility deliveries.
Over the past decade, Kenya has made tremendous efforts to enhance maternal and child health. Secure maternity policies such as free maternity care are one of the initiatives that have enhanced maternal and child health in all public health facilities. Despite these attempts, public health facilities for maternal and child health are still underused. This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive study design to identify determinants of free maternal health services by evaluating factors determining perceptions and health-seeking behavior of 384 pregnant mothers in Malava Sub-County, Kakamega County. The study used a mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative approaches). Questionnaires were administered to pregnant mothers selected for the study. The study employed a purposive sampling of research participants. Quantitative data were collected using the questionnaire administered by the research assistants whereas qualitative data were collected by the researcher through interview schedules. Quantitative data analysis was carried out using SPSS 23. However, qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. Quantitative data representation was done in terms of frequency and percentages. Analysis of chi-square testing was used to assess the association between the variables of socio-economic and health facilities and the provision of free maternity facilities (p<0.05). The study established that the uptake of free maternal service by pregnant mothers was influenced by their level of primitivism and religious beliefs. In addition, this study found out that 53.8% and 77.7% of the pregnant mothers could not attend antenatal and post-natal care because government facilities were located far away from their residences and they also had less access to some information about free maternal health care. The results of this research would be disseminated to the hospital management team, Sub-Country health management team, County health management team, and other stakeholders, thereby demonstrating reasons for low uptake of free maternity services and helping to strategize for better service delivery. Based on the finding, the study recommends that to improve access to free maternal health care, the county government ought to place health services as close as possible to the community where people live. Secondly, there is a need to embrace the usage of the existing media network to sensitize pregnant mothers to the danger signs and the need to have decision-making powers over their safety. Lastly, hospital management ought to increase the awareness of free maternal health care and to include it among the community priorities during dialog days, action days, and other group discussions.
Assessment of Maternal Health Seeking Behavior and Service Utilization among ...Scientific Review
Health seeking behavior and utilization of maternal healthcare services are proximate factors that influence maternal morbidity and mortality in any society. We therefore assessed the pattern of health seeking behavior and types of maternal healthcare services utilized by women of the reproductive age in parts of Southeastern Nigeria. A cross sectional descriptive method involving the use of a well-structured pretested questionnaire was used to collect data from 521 randomly selected women between the ages of 15-49 years. Informed oral consent was obtained from these women prior to their recruitment for the study. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the data obtained using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The mean age of the respondents was 32 ± 0.07620 years and most(50.5%) attained secondary education. There was a significant relationship between healthcare services and mother's age (p<0.000) with women between 29-35yrs (52.2%) utilizing healthcare services more than those in other age groups. Place of residence (r =0.568, p≤.001) and religion (r = 0.784, p≤0.001) were also significantly associated with health seeking behaviour. About 58% of the respondents understood that good maternal healthcare can reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Our findings showed good health seeking behaviour and service utilization in the study area despite the identified hindering factors. These underscore the need to empower women of reproductive age as well as to put mechanisms in place that will increase their access to quality maternal health care services.
Assessment of Maternal Health Seeking Behavior and Service Utilization among...Scientific Review SR
Health seeking behavior and utilization of maternal healthcare services are proximate factors that
influence maternal morbidity and mortality in any society. We therefore assessed the pattern of health seeking
behavior and types of maternal healthcare services utilized by women of the reproductive age in parts of
Southeastern Nigeria. A cross sectional descriptive method involving the use of a well-structured pretested
questionnaire was used to collect data from 521 randomly selected women between the ages of 15-49 years.
Informed oral consent was obtained from these women prior to their recruitment for the study. Descriptive
statistical analysis was performed on the data obtained using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).
The mean age of the respondents was 32 ± 0.07620 years and most(50.5%) attained secondary education. There
was a significant relationship between healthcare services and mother's age (p<0.000) with women between 29-35yrs (52.2%) utilizing healthcare services more than those in other age groups. Place of residence (r =0.568,
p≤.001) and religion (r = 0.784, p≤0.001) were also significantly associated with health seeking behaviour.
About 58% of the respondents understood that good maternal healthcare can reduce maternal mortality and
morbidity. Our findings showed good health seeking behaviour and service utilization in the study area despite
the identified hindering factors. These underscore the need to empower women of reproductive age as well as to
put mechanisms in place that will increase their access to quality maternal health care services
Os cuidados de saúde prestados durante a gravidez salvaguardam o bem-estar da mãe e do feto e proporcionam um bom começo de vida aos bebês. Os custos financeiros de ter um bebê podem ser catastróficos, impedindo as mulheres grávidas de procurar serviços essenciais de saúde materna e colocando em risco a vida das mães e de seus filhos.
De acordo com a análise recentemente divulgada, estima-se que 5 milhões de famílias vivendo na África, Ásia, América Latina e Caribe incorrerão em grandes dificuldades financeiras a cada ano - ou gastos catastróficos em saúde - devido a ausência de cuidados pré-natal e parto. Os gastos com saúde são considerados grandes se excederem 40% dos gastos não essenciais, não alimentares, de um domicílio. Quase dois terços dessas famílias, ou cerca de 3 milhões de famílias, estão na Ásia.
O documento aborda ainda, a epidemia de cesáreas, o casamento infantil, a gravidez na adolescência...
Obrigado e parabéns ao Unicef!
Prof. Marcus Renato de Carvalho
Analyzing Attitudes Towards Contraception & Teenage Pregnancy Using Social Da...UN Global Pulse
Pulse Lab Kampala and UNFPA collaborated on a project to explore the use of real-time digital data to understand debate among Ugandans on contraception and teenage pregnancy, and to analyse perceptions towards different types of contraception. The project resulted in a real- time interactive dashboard that analyses public Facebook posts and data from UNICEF’s U-report (a SMS-based polling system for Ugandan youth) for keywords related to contraception and teenage pregnancy. The dashboard allows for tracking of emerging and trending topics and perceptions related to family planning month by month. This project demonstrated the potential of using social data to supplement traditional means of gaining insights through less-frequent national surveys.
Cite as: UN Global Pulse, 'Analyzing Attitudes Towards Contraception & Teenage Pregnancy Using Social Data', Global Pulse Project Series, no.8, 2014.
On the Margins of Health Care Provision: Delivering at Home in Harare, Zimbabwepaperpublications3
Abstract: This paper analyses the phenomenon of home deliveries by pregnant women in an urban setting in Zimbabwe. It argues that, though home deliveries are commonly practiced in the rural areas, they have now found their way into and are even proliferating in the urban areas. Social cultural values, religious belief and economic status/resources determine women’s place of birth. Whilst government policies expounded through the Ministry of Health (MoH) programs and policies denounce home deliveries, the frail health care system characterized by mass exodus of qualified personnel, in availability of drugs and understaffing of healthcare centres do little to lure pregnant women to deliver in hospitals. Furthermore, the high levels of poverty among the populace entail that people cannot afford either public or private hospital services; and thus resort to home-based healthcare and subsequently home deliveries. The paper explores the factors fuelling home deliveries and the challenges associated with this practice in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Improve quality and increase access to family planning and maternal health care services
Educate couples to ensure they have the best chance for a wanted and safe pregnancy
Safe motherhood is one of the important components of Reproductive Health. It means ensuring that all women receive the care they need, to be safe and healthy throughout pregnancy and childbirth. It is the ability of a mother to have safe & healthy pregnancy & child birth.
Ijsrp p8825 Caregiver factors influencing seeking of Early Infant Diagnosis (...Elizabeth kiilu
Caregiver factors influencing seeking of Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) of HIV services in selected hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya:A qualitative Study
Zero Mothers Die is a global partnership initiative saving the lives of pregnant women and their newborns through the systematic use of ICTs and mobile technologies to improve maternal, newborn and child health.
M2M: Universally Designed Multimedia Training and Learning Application for Ma...ijma
The figure of Maternal Mortality Ratio in the global south is worrying and requires a serious attention from all stakeholders. Despite the progress made on maternity healthcare in the last two decades, a huge effort is still required to achieve the SDG3 target. The effort includes capacitating the health professionals and local doulas through training and learning application platforms. Universally designed multimedia training and learning applications plays such a significant role in facilitating this effort. To design an accessible maternity training and learning application, the accessibility barriers of the target diverse user groups must be identified, and the impact of the barriers need to be quantified.
Impact of Green Attitude on Green Work Behavior: An Empirical Study of Employ...AJSSMTJournal
As interesting and important areas, Green Attitude (GA) and Green Work Behavior (GWB) are
examined considering the employees in a Sri Lankan tiles manufacturing company. The main objective of the
study is to explore the impact of GA on employees’ GWB. Using simple random sampling, 81 employees were
selected as the sample and primary data were gathered using two self-developed instruments regarding to GA
and GWB. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted to analyze the data and the main finding of the
study is that there is a positive and significant impact from GA on GWB of the employees in the selected tiles
manufacturing company. As the recommendation of the study authors instruct the companies in the tiles
manufacturing industry to develop employees’ green attitude for the better work behavior in greening
The Effect of Competence and Teacher Certification on Performance of “Vocatio...AJSSMTJournal
This study aims to determine the effect of teacher competency and certification on teacher
performance with motivation as an intervening variable. This research is motivated by the still low competency
of teachers, not all teachers who carry out their tasks well, teachers' motivation is still low, teacher's
performance has not reached the target in SMK Kerinci Regency. The research method with a quantitative
approach with the path analysis method. Data collection techniques with questionnaires, observation and
interviews. The respondents of this study were 53 Vocational High School Teachers in Kerinci Regency. The
sampling method uses the total sampling method in which the entire population in this study is the research
sample. Hypothesis testing was calculated with the IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) program
version 24.0.
The results of this study found that competence has a significant effect on teacher motivation, teacher
certification has a significant effect on teacher motivation, motivation has a significant effect on teacher
performance, competence has a significant effect on teacher performance, teacher certification has a significant
effect on teacher performance, competence has no significant effect on performance with motivation as an
intervening variable, and teacher certification has a significant effect on performance with motivation as an
intervening variable on Vocational High School Teachers in Kerinci Regency.
Gender Differences on Organizational Commitment: Empirical Evidence from Empl...AJSSMTJournal
Organizational commitment is considered as a crucial factor that has a direct impact on
organizational outcomes. A systematic empirical study was carried out to address the existing contextual gap
and intellectual curiosity on gender differences in organizational commitment on apparel industry workers of Sri
Lanka. The main objective of the study was to investigate whether there is a significant difference among male
and female employees in terms of the level of organizational commitment in the apparel industry of Sri Lanka.
This is an analytical nature study and unit of analysis is individual employees. The survey method was utilized,
and 100 employees responded to the author developed questionnaire using random sampling technique. The
instrument used to measure organizational commitment was adopted by Allen and Meyers’ standard
questionnaire which consists of a multi-component model include; affective commitment, continuance
commitment, and normative commitment. Reliability and validity of the instruments used were assured. The
empirical findings revealed that there is no significant difference between male and female employees in terms
of organizational commitment in the apparel industry of Sri Lanka.
Teaching with Frequent Tests and its Consequences on Students’ Performance in...AJSSMTJournal
The intricacies of good teaching are known only to experienced teachers. Teaching is assessment
and, learning and retention are functions of regular testing. This study theorises classroom assessments and
links them with implicit theories of learning and retention of knowledge. The subjects of the study were
motivated to maintain the momentum of learning through taking regular tests and subjected to counselling and
regular feedback on the tests they took. The study analysed statistically semester results for five different year
groups of students taught Quantum Mechanics by the same lecturer who adopted weekly testing. The results
show substantial continuous improvements in students’ academic achievement. The results may be indictments
on lecturers who do not use classroom tests to motivate students’ learning.
The Effect of Competence and Organizational Culture on Work Motivation and It...AJSSMTJournal
This study aims to determine the purpose of competence and organizational culture on employee
performance with motivation as a mediating variable. This research is motivated by level of employee ability or
employee competency is still low so that employee performance becomes difficult to achieve, relations between
colleagues in the organization are still low, Employee motivation and encouragement from the organization still
cannot impact employee performance and the performance of employees who are still not stable so that target
institutions have not been achieved.
The research method with a quantitative approach with the path analysis method. Data collection techniques
with questionnaires, observation and interviews. The respondents of this study were 42 employees of Kayu Aro
Barat District. The sampling method uses the total sampling method in which the entire population in this study
is the research sample. Hypothesis testing was calculated with the IBM Statistical Package for Social Science
(SPSS) program version 24.0.
The results of this study found that competence has a significant effect on work motivation, organizational
culture has a significant effect on work motivation, work motivation has a significant effect on employee
performance, competence has a significant effect on employee performance, organizational culture has a
significant effect on employee performance, work motivation as a mediating variable does not have a significant
effect between competence and employee performance, work motivation as a mediating variable does not have
a significant effect between organizational culture and employee performance at Kayu Aro Barat District Kerinci
Regency.
Effects of Perceived Workplace Incivility on Presenteeism Perceptions: A Rese...AJSSMTJournal
There are many different presenteeism conceptualizations in the business literature, and despite
some insights about underlaying presenteeism factors, further research is still needed in this emerging area. One
of such factors is claimed to be incivility within the business context. There is, however, not ample research about
these factor’s connections with presenteeism itself. Taking this gap into account, the aim of this study is to
scrutinize any possible effects of business members’ perceived workplace incivility on their presenteeism
perceptions. Data are collected via questionnaires from the members of small and medium sized enterprises
(SMEs) in Ikitelli Organized Industrial Zone in Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 183 participants are contacted. There is a
statistically significant connection between the participants’ perceived incivility and presenteeism, implying that
these two negative business aspects are actually related. This finding clearly points out that perceptions of
undesirable, rude, and negative behaviors in the work context is a motivator of the participants’ unwillingness to
be present in their business environment. It is also noteworthy that the perceived incivility is a monolithic aspect,
whereas the perception of presenteeism is composed of perceptions about negativities and resistance, both of
which are related to issues in business context.
Switching Among Brands of Poultry Feeds: The Egg Farmers’ Acuity in Ogun Stat...AJSSMTJournal
In spite of the contribution of poultry to the protein intake and income generation of the growing
population of Nigeria, not many studies have been instituted at understanding the switching behaviour of the
poultry farmers when they make purchases of their major inputs, feed, which empirical evidences showed to
constitute about three-quarter of the variable cost of production. This study was therefore conducted to
address the gap by analysing primary data obtained from 480 poultry Egg-farmers in Ogun State through a
multistage sampling technique. The results revealed that poultry is a male dominated enterprise cutting across
two major religions in the country. Many of the farmers had been in operation for more than eight years and
are relatively educated with a mean age of 41 years. The Switching Cost (Monetized) indicated that, costs was
highest with Top feed users who opted for Vital feed at N2.20/bird/day and least for users of Hybrid who
considered Premium as an option at N0.12/bird/day. Similarly, Switching Cost (Psychological) revealed that
switching from Top feed to Premium feed will also be highest at 4.8 units and least with Hybrid to Chikun at
3.3 units. The study therefore recommended that feed producers should imbibe ways of increasing the likely
switching cost, both monetized and psychological that an Egg-farmer may incur if he switches to the Next Best
Alternative Brand through sound relationship management, lock-in programmes and reward of loyalty
Moonlighting as ‘Coping Strategy’ for Irregular Payment of Salaries in Nigeri...AJSSMTJournal
Moonlighting, a latent but real phenomenon in the Nigerian economic experience is being
considered alongside irregular workers’ monthly salary in Nigeria which has been on since 2015. Moonlighting
- keeping several jobs simultaneously under different employers as an employee, is more real in the western
world due to increasing legal control. In general, it is referred to as ‘hustling’, ‘multiple runs’, extra pursuits, or
‘PiPis’ in several contexts. Data was collected from 323 respondents from 4 Local Government Area
secretariats in Ekiti state through multistage sampling procedure. Statistics indicate a significant relationship [r
(323) = 0.47, p < .05] between workers’ irregular monthly salaries and the practice of moonlighting among
these public servants in Ekiti state. The affinity between irregular monthly salary and moonlighting has
significantly impacted job commitment deficit [r (323) = 0.47, p < .05]. Employees who experience high
irregularities in their salary tend to engage more in moonlighting (Mean=17.71; Std.Dev=4.96), than those who
have little experience of salary irregularities (Mean=15.77; Std.Dev=4.01). Employees who engage more in
moonlighting tend to be less committed (Mean=19.64; SD=3.77), in comparison with those who are less
engaged in moonlighting (Mean=20.30; Std.Dev=3.56). The study has shown that moonlighting has continued
as a habit and a strategy for mitigating the negative impact of irregular payment of workers’ salary among LG
employees. Increasing focus of labour law in that direction might be necessary to prevent its negative impact
on workers’ commitment and productivity in Ekiti State
Variables that Affect the Performance of the Members of the Traffic Unit Polr...AJSSMTJournal
This research aims to determine the variable that affects the performance of the members of the
Traffic Unit (satafterwards) of Padang police with job satisfaction as a Intervening variable. The research
samples are actually 92 members of the Traffic Unit (Satthus) Polresta Padang. The method of research with a
quantitative approach with a pathway analysis method and a hypothesis test using the T test with SPSS is used
to analyse the data. The results showed that: 1) Working discipline has significant effect on job satisfaction, 2)
significant impact on job satisfaction, 3) Working discipline is significant to the performance of members, 4)
significant integrity of the member's performance, 5) job satisfaction has significant effect on the member's
performance, 6) There is no influence of the working discipline variable on the performance of members that
are mediated by job satisfaction, and 7) there is no influence of integrity variables on the performance of
members mediated by job satisfaction.
Conflict and Workers’ Morale in Manufacturing Companies in Rivers State, NigeriaAJSSMTJournal
This piece of work theoretically discussed workers’ morale and conflict in manufacturing
companies in Rivers State with specific elaborations on: the meaning of conflict, workers’ morale, causes and
types of conflict, review of extant literature on conflict and workers’ morale, conflict management, impacts
and the relationship betwixt conflict and workers’ morale in manufacturing companies in Rivers State.
Theoretical framework was based on the traditional and contemporary theories of conflict, the basis of
which the study found that, just like death, conflicts are omnipresent and inevitable in life and abounds in
manufacturing companies in Rivers State as virtually every sphere of the organizations gets ravaged by one
form of conflict or the other ranging from: interpersonal/intergroup conflict, intrapersonal/group conflict,
intra-organizational, constructive or functional conflict, dysfunctional or destructive conflicts. It was deduced
that conflicts occur in organizations as a result of: incompatible goals, different values and beliefs, inconsistent
evaluation and reward system, communication problems, struggle for power, authority/control, and
leadership style, scarcity of common resources, organizational demands and self-worth demands. It was also
found that if a conflict is not aptly and promptly managed, it can lead to truncated or reduced workers’ morale
causing decreased productivity, failure to attain set goals, absenteeism, low service delivery, profit reduction,
frustration, anger, fear, distrust or resentment amongst the workers’. Again, the nature of the conflict, though,
determines how best it could be managed and conflict can sometimes yield positive workers’ morale or result
if well managed, meaning that not all conflict situations are negatively inclined. The recommendation is that
efforts should constantly be made to ensure that the causes of conflicts are handled timely as apt detection
and handling of conflicting parties/issues will resolve concerns amicably. Workers should be oriented with the
importance of peaceful coexistence in the workplace as coercion or intimidation will only lead to counter
productivity/low morale. It is suggested that this study be repeated in different organizational setting and in
other states in Nigeria. This findings and recommendations would provide good practical and theoretical
background for conflict management in organizations in future
Variables that affect Performance with Working Discipline as A Variable Inter...AJSSMTJournal
This research aims to determine empirically the variables affecting performance by working
discipline as a variable Intervening at the education office of Padang. Collection of primary data using poll or
questionnaire techniques. The research population is all civil servants of the Padang City Education Office in
2019. The number 101 research samples were determined using a saturated sampling technique (census).
Analysis of data in this study using path analysis.
The results showed that 1) working competencies have a positive and significant impact on employee
discipline 2) The working culture has a positive and significant effect on employee discipline 3) Working
competency is positive and significant towards employee performance 4) Work culture positive and significant
impact on employee performance 5) Work discipline is positive and significant to the performance of
employees 6) work competency is positive and significant to the employee performance of Padang City
education with working discipline as a intervening variable; 7) The working culture has a positive and
significant impact on the performance of the Padang City Education officer with the working discipline as a
intervening variable
Inclusive education has begun to be addressed within the context of the broader international
debate on “Education for All” (EFA), a debate launched at the World Conference held in 1990 in Jomtien,
Thailand. From Jomtien until today, thinking has evolved from the almost symbolic presence of special
educational needs in the initial documentation, towards the recognition that inclusion must be a fundamental
principle of the EFA movement as a whole. Within this process, the contribution of the Salamanca Declaration
on Special Educational Needs: Access and quality (Unesco, 1994) stands out, from which the concept of
educational inclusion emerges strongly. Thereafter thescope and perspectives of inclusive education has been
based on the idea that all children and young people have the right to a quality education with equivalent
learning opportunities, regardless of their social and cultural background and their differences in skills and
abilities (OIE -UNESCO, 20 08)
Curriculum Design: Inception to ExecutionAJSSMTJournal
This module attempts to look into the nuances of Curriculum, Syllabus and Course Designing and
its importance in today’s modern world. In a nutshell, the sequence of the life experiences through which an
academic institution attempts to promote a pupil’s growth is known as a curriculum and here we have tried to
look into the fact that any curriculum should focus on learner’s needs, interests, abilities and deficiencies in
order to make the process of Teaching-Learning effective. Curriculum is an organised course of study
undertaken by a student in or under the aegis of a school, college, university or any other institution of
learning and more commonly, the set of studies organised for a particular group of students by a school,
college etc. It is the set of desired learning outcomes or the structured set of learning experiences aimed at
achieving such outcomes. It is a very tricky process as it involves philosophical, social and administrative
factors of a programme and as result one should be aware of various perspectives and its impact upon the
learners ( that to a successful and a positive one) after the completion of the programme. Any curriculum
should be holistic in its significance and purpose in order to inculcate in the learner the knowledge, attitudes,
values, and techniques that have cultural relevance. Course and curriculum design is continuously evolving and
changing. There are escalating social and economic pressures on higher education to generate a wider range of
knowledge, skills and attitudes for coping with the demands of our 'super complex age'. The current velocity of
technological and social change is impelling teachers to think in terms of educating students not for today's
problems but for those of tomorrow
The Effect of a High-Commitment Work System on Improve Organization Citizensh...AJSSMTJournal
This study aimed at identifying High commitment work system(HCWS) in improving Organization
citizenship behavior (Altruism, conscientiousness, sportsmanship) in the zain telecom company The authors
employed a predictive-descriptive approach to identify the level of hcws at zain . Male and female employees
at zain (No.378) participated in the study. A questionnaire prepared to measure the role of HCWS in improving
OCB was implemented. Means, standard deviations, multiple linear regression and 1-Way ANOVA analyses
were used to examine the data. HCWS from the perspective of zain telecom company employees scored a high
level at overall test. OCB level from the perspective of the employees at zain telecomcompany and its
dimensions scored high. The predictive model of HCWS and OCB from employee’s perspective was statistically
significant. Based on these results, the authors recommend zain telecom company to take more interest in
improving its HCWS.
The Political Settlement of Local Economic Development in Ghana’s Local Gover...AJSSMTJournal
Both the 1992 Republican Constitution and the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) have
conferred political, administrative, social, economic and developmental authorities and functions on the
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. However, the assemblies have exercised all other authorities
to the neglect of their economic and developmental functions. In view of this, they still rely on central
government for development hence the concept local economic development emerged for assemblies to use
their local resources to champion the development of their localities. Deploying both primary and secondary
sources of data, this paper examined the extent of political settlement in the implementation of local
economic development (LED) in Ghana. The study found that the nature of the LED programme, the strategic
nature of the MMDAs, the activism of the actors, the benefits to be derived by the actors, the political party in
power and the need to test new development paradigms shaped the behaviour of actors in the LED
implementation process. The desire of each actor to project its interest above the others culminated into “turf
war” among them in the implementation process. The study recommends that the development of localities
should supersede the interest of actors, locality leadership should be proactive and aggressive in wooing
investors, and incentives should be provided for investors who invest in the hinterlands. Key lessons learnt
were: leadership was significant in LED, collaboration among actors is important for the success of LED.
Drug Dealers, Crimes, and Terrorism in the United States: A Study of Stephen ...AJSSMTJournal
This paper deals with the perpetration of crimes and drug business in the United States. It shows
that the crimes perpetrated in this country until the 1980s are the consequences of racial discrimination
between black and white Americans. Tired of the rejection in a country they believe is also theirs; Blacks think
that they have to respond to violence with violence by sacrificing the lives of many Americans, starting with
the President himself. Thus, this study shows not only the war raging between the United States and Colombia,
but also the influence of social movements from the United States on Cuba, with the downfall of Fidel Castro.
Entrepreneurial Skill needs of Agricultural Education Graduates in Vocational...AJSSMTJournal
The study investigates the entrepreneurship skill needs of agricultural education graduates in
Vocational training for combating unemployment F.C.T, Nigeria. The study used survey research design. Two
research questions two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Two hundred and eighty three (283)
respondents were randomly selected in the six area council. The instrument used for data collection was the
questionnaire. The method of data analysis was the use of descriptive statistic (mean and standard deviation)
Benchmark of 2.5 was used as criterion for agreed and less than 2.5 was considered disagreed. Chi-square
statistics was used to test the Null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Based on the findings of this study, it
was concluded that various areas of poultry production skills were acquired by graduates of agricultural
education and also employment opportunities for agricultural education graduates in marketing of poultry
products thrive in the study area. It was therefore, recommended that graduates of agricultural education
graduates should be given orientation on the various employment opportunities available within their
environment in their area of skills to be self-dependence and also agricultural education graduates should put in
to practice their areas of skills acquisition in order to be self-employ and reduce unemployment.
Octopus and Midget in the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process: Who Determines W...AJSSMTJournal
The age-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict has raised global security concerns and attracted solution
trajectories which emphasised two-state solution and ignored policy framework towards “one-state” solution,
especially based on the new dynamics in the aftermath of U.S. declaration of Jerusalem as the capital city of
Israel. The U.S. declaration introduced unequal relationship between Israel and the Palestinian Authority at the
Washington peace negotiations. Consequently, the Palestinian Authority protested that the U.S. acted in selfinterest based on her historical relationship with Israel rather than for peace and security in the Middle East
and the world. The Palestinian Authority withdrew from direct negotiation with Israel and questioned U.S.
moral ground to act as an ‘honest broker’ in packaging a new peace plan. As a reprisal, the U.S. cut all aid to
Palestine, except some $42 million for security cooperation, and closed down Palestinian Liberation
Organisation liaison office in Washington. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas reacted and cut off security
cooperation with the U.S. Israeli-Palestinian relationship demonstrates that where parties play it dirty,
morality is hardly the option. The broad objective of this paper is to analyse the opportunities and challenges
in the Israeli-Palestinian two-state, one-state and no-state solution within the rubrics of global realpolitik of
asymmetrical relationship between power-studded Israel and the putative power-drought Palestinian
Authority. The specific aim is to recommending policy solution for enduring peace and stability in the Middle
East region and the world at large.
Cell Phones Usage for Academic Activities amongst Undergraduate Students of t...AJSSMTJournal
This study investigated the use of cell phones for academic activities amongst the undergraduate
students of the Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTM). Survey questionnaire was used for collecting
data from 379 respondents drawn based on stratified random sampling. The response rate was 99%. Findings
show that the majority 246(65.6%) of the respondents were very strongly agreed that they have awareness on
the usage of cell phones for making calls, while 224(59.7%) of them were very strongly agreed that they have
used cell phones to access the Internet. Whereas, 122(32.5%) of the respondents were very strongly agreed
that spending more time on cell phone reduces academic performance. Also 209(55.7%) of the respondents
were very strongly agreed that most students of FUTM faced the challenges of slow Internet connection,
252(67.2%) respondents were very strongly agreed that the wireless Internet infrastructure in the university
should be upgraded to ensure quality and faster download, and should be available to students for use all
times
An Ethnographic Investigation of Indigenous Management Thoughts and Practices...AJSSMTJournal
The application of Western management theories and philosophies in African societies have
been called to question by scholars, thus igniting calls for management principles and practices that reflect the
contextual nuances and environmental challenges of Africa. This paper examined the indigenous traditional
practices of Ido people of Kalabari, an Ijaw tribe in Rivers State, Nigeria, with a view to identifying the precolonial management thoughts and practices embedded in them. This is an ethnographic study which adopted
interviews, group discussion and observation as sources of data collection. Adopting the judgemental
sampling technique, 15 critical stakeholders of Ido Community – six males and nine females participated in the
interview and focused group sessions while the researchers lived as participant observers in the community to
identify the prevailing management practices and their underlying philosophy. The results of the study indicate
that the Ido people were already utilising indigenous management principles and practices before the advent
of colonialism. It was concluded that there is urgent need for more investigations into the traditional practices
of Africa and other developing economies to discover indigenous management theories and practices of these
geographies that will take cognizance of their contextual nuances and environmental peculiarities in order to
proffer solutions to their peculiar challenges
Introduction to AI for Nonprofits with Tapp NetworkTechSoup
Dive into the world of AI! Experts Jon Hill and Tareq Monaur will guide you through AI's role in enhancing nonprofit websites and basic marketing strategies, making it easy to understand and apply.
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty, In...Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty,
International FDP on Fundamentals of Research in Social Sciences
at Integral University, Lucknow, 06.06.2024
By Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Thinking of getting a dog? Be aware that breeds like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds can be loyal and dangerous. Proper training and socialization are crucial to preventing aggressive behaviors. Ensure safety by understanding their needs and always supervising interactions. Stay safe, and enjoy your furry friends!
This presentation includes basic of PCOS their pathology and treatment and also Ayurveda correlation of PCOS and Ayurvedic line of treatment mentioned in classics.
Delivering Micro-Credentials in Technical and Vocational Education and TrainingAG2 Design
Explore how micro-credentials are transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with this comprehensive slide deck. Discover what micro-credentials are, their importance in TVET, the advantages they offer, and the insights from industry experts. Additionally, learn about the top software applications available for creating and managing micro-credentials. This presentation also includes valuable resources and a discussion on the future of these specialised certifications.
For more detailed information on delivering micro-credentials in TVET, visit this https://tvettrainer.com/delivering-micro-credentials-in-tvet/
বাংলাদেশের অর্থনৈতিক সমীক্ষা ২০২৪ [Bangladesh Economic Review 2024 Bangla.pdf] কম্পিউটার , ট্যাব ও স্মার্ট ফোন ভার্সন সহ সম্পূর্ণ বাংলা ই-বুক বা pdf বই " সুচিপত্র ...বুকমার্ক মেনু 🔖 ও হাইপার লিংক মেনু 📝👆 যুক্ত ..
আমাদের সবার জন্য খুব খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটি বই ..বিসিএস, ব্যাংক, ইউনিভার্সিটি ভর্তি ও যে কোন প্রতিযোগিতা মূলক পরীক্ষার জন্য এর খুব ইম্পরট্যান্ট একটি বিষয় ...তাছাড়া বাংলাদেশের সাম্প্রতিক যে কোন ডাটা বা তথ্য এই বইতে পাবেন ...
তাই একজন নাগরিক হিসাবে এই তথ্য গুলো আপনার জানা প্রয়োজন ...।
বিসিএস ও ব্যাংক এর লিখিত পরীক্ষা ...+এছাড়া মাধ্যমিক ও উচ্চমাধ্যমিকের স্টুডেন্টদের জন্য অনেক কাজে আসবে ...
Safalta Digital marketing institute in Noida, provide complete applications that encompass a huge range of virtual advertising and marketing additives, which includes search engine optimization, virtual communication advertising, pay-per-click on marketing, content material advertising, internet analytics, and greater. These university courses are designed for students who possess a comprehensive understanding of virtual marketing strategies and attributes.Safalta Digital Marketing Institute in Noida is a first choice for young individuals or students who are looking to start their careers in the field of digital advertising. The institute gives specialized courses designed and certification.
for beginners, providing thorough training in areas such as SEO, digital communication marketing, and PPC training in Noida. After finishing the program, students receive the certifications recognised by top different universitie, setting a strong foundation for a successful career in digital marketing.
Normal Labour/ Stages of Labour/ Mechanism of LabourWasim Ak
Normal labor is also termed spontaneous labor, defined as the natural physiological process through which the fetus, placenta, and membranes are expelled from the uterus through the birth canal at term (37 to 42 weeks
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
Advantages and Disadvantages of CMS from an SEO Perspective
Rural Women Perceptions of Digital Media Influence on Awareness Creation about Maternal Health Information in Minna, Nigeria
1. 61 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
ISSN: 2313-7410
Volume 2 Issue 3, May-June, 2020
Available at www.ajssmt.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Women Perceptions of Digital Media Influence
on Awareness Creation about Maternal Health
Information in Minna, Nigeria
Abdulhameed Kayode Agboola1
, Tabitha Waziri Ahmed2
1,2
Department of Information and Media Technology, School of Information and Communication Technology,
Federal University of Technology, Minna Nigeria.
ABSTRACT : This study has investigated the perception of digital media influence in awareness creation on
maternal health amongst rural women in Minna, Nigeria. Survey questionnaire was administered to a sample
of 384 respondents randomly drawn from a population of 96,886. The response was 99.2%. Findings reveal
that 109(28.61%) of the respondents rural women in Minna metropolis were very much exposed to maternal
health information on digital media with (Mean=4.14), while WhatsApp group 111(29.13%) (Mean=4.09),
whereas 107(28.08%) with (Mean= 3.88) were exposed to Internet discussion forum. However, discussion
forum and social networks appear to be the major sources of maternal health information among rural women
in Minna metropolis. Lack of local content on maternal health issues and inadequate relevant maternal health
information were revealed as the challenges to maternal health. The study recommends that digital media
should be effectively and efficiently used for maternal health improvement in Nigeria health centres.
Keywords: Maternal health, public health, digital media, innovation, healthcare, awareness creation,
communication, perception, strategy, information.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Maternal health can be viewed as a comprehensive trajectory for health of women starting from pre-
pregnancy to postpartum and maternal phase of the mother. It covers services for pre-pregnancy, pregnancy,
birth and postpartum. Maternal health care services are provided during these phases to ensure well-being of
the mother and child (Babalola & Fatusi, 2009). Effective maternal healthcare services are crucial for the
survival of the mother and the new-born child (Gabrysch & Campbell, 2009).
The development of digital media and advancement in communication technology hold significant prospects
for addressing the challenges of maternal health and developmental issues facing especially the developing
world (O’Higgins, Murphy & Turner, 2015). This optimism is based on the increasing levels of the Internet
penetration as well as interactivity, genuine dialogue, speed, multimodality, user-generated content, mass
customization, horizontal communication, and multi-directionality that characteristics the digital media.
Information and communications technologies (ICTs) have been the corner stone in transforming health
communication practices (Johnson, 2014).
In the era of an increasingly digitalized world, the issue of maternal health is now an embodied project which
encompasses digital health, accessing the digital platforms as a source for maternal health information is now
2. 62 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
changing the way pregnant women and nursing mother source for maternal health information (Johnson,
2014). Women are integral part of their community, and not an Island. Every decision a woman makes is
influenced by those around her – her husband, relatives, friends, and the community. While women may
receive accurate health information from facility- and community-based health providers, their health-seeking
decisions are influenced also by stories and information that circulate in the media (Sinai, Anyanti, Khan,
Daroda & Oguntunde, 2017).
Maternal health promotion initiatives can facilitate health behavioral change by promoting support for
individuals and groups from salient agents within their environment (Putland, Baum, Ziersch, Arthurson, &
Pomagalska, 2013), these agents could be family or relatives, peers and friends. With an evolving interactions
and advancing digital technology, interactive online platforms such as digital media may prove to be an
effective medium for maternal health promotion. This study therefore examines the perception of digital
media influence in awareness creation on maternal health, particularly, among rural women in Minna
metropolis, Niger State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Maternal health promotion has been a major focus of government, non-governmental organizations-local and
international, with various policies developed to promote this, but demographics on maternal mortality keep
on rising, despite different intervention and policies women are still vulnerable to maternal death due to
childbearing, unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and infections (USAID, 2013).
Online digital media platforms like Twitter and Facebook represent a promising opportunity for maternal
health promotion among women. However, there is limited literature on the effectiveness of digital media
influence in awareness creation on maternal health, particularly, among women in the semi-rural area
(Lupton, 2017). Against this background, this study delves to investigate on maternal health issues with a view
that if there is adequate promotion of maternal health through the digital media, the attention of women
could be drawn to improve their health conditions especially during pregnancy. Therefore, this study aims to
examine the influence of digital media in awareness creation on maternal health among women in Minna
metropolis, Niger State.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of this study is to examine the influence of digital media in awareness creation on maternal health in
Minna metropolis, Niger State. Specific objectives are:
1. To determine the level of exposure of rural women in Minna metropolis to maternal health
information on digital media
2. To determine which digital media are popular sources for maternal health information among
rural women in Minna metropolis.
3. To determine the type of digital services are sought after for maternal health information by rural
women in Minna metropolis.
4. To determine the existing digital media channels of communication between healthcare givers
and rural women of reproductive age in Minna metropolis.
5. To determine the challenges face by rural women in accessing adequate information on maternal
health issues.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Maternal Health
World Health Organization (WHO, 2011) defined maternal health as the physical wellbeing of a mother during
pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Maternal health encompasses prenatal care and postnatal care of the
mother and of the child up to the age of five years (Fadeyi, 2007). The WHO has observed that there is an
urgent need for programmes that address the health and safety of pregnant adolescents and the need to
teach young women the skills to build a successful future. Achieving good status of maternal health is
3. 63 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
multidimensional; therefore, there is need for concerted effort from all concerns to ensure the reduction of
the alarming rate of maternal health complications in Africa. According to (WHO, 2010), 99% of the estimated
figure for maternal deaths worldwide happened in developing countries, with an estimated 265,000 maternal
deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, and 840/100,000 live births in Nigeria. Where food safety, sleep and
family planning are among the factors that were mentioned to undermine maternal health (World Bank,
2011).
2.2 Maternal Health in Nigeria
Nigeria population has been estimated to be about 190.89 million people with the majority living in the rural
areas. The country depends on crude oil for its economy and had a Gross National Income of US$753 and life
expectancy at birth of 54.5 years (WHO, 2011). Nigeria has maternal mortality rate of 1,140 per 100,000 live
births. The high maternal mortality rates is attributed to several factors, such as, long distances to health
facilities in rural areas which results in delays, lack of adequate skilled staff, drugs and equipment and the
effects of HIV/AIDS (Cooke & Tahir, 2013).
Federal Government of Nigeria through the State Ministries of Health is the main provider of health services in
the country. The health services are delivered through clinics, health centres, district hospitals, federal medical
centres and general hospitals across the states and local governments. Referral system is highly practiced
when there are severe cases which cannot be treated at the lower level hospital. There are also private
hospitals that are licensed by government to provide healthcare services in Nigeria. In some rare cases,
traditional birth attendants (TBA) also provide maternal care services (Germaine, 2015).
WHO (2011) statistics revealed that Nigeria as a country has not done enough in terms of providing adequate
maternal healthcare and quality healthcare for Nigerians. The body maintained that Nigeria’s annual average
rate of decline (AARD) percentage for maternal mortality ratio for the period 1990-2010 stands at 630, is a
higher proportion than in Afghanistan or Haiti, and only slightly lower than that of Liberia or Sudan (Cooke &
Tahir, 2013). Cooke and Tahir (2013) further observed that, even in Nigeria, the level of maternal health varies
among the regions. They posited that, the Northern Nigeria has the highest cases of maternal health than the
Southern part of the country.
2.3 Media and Maternal Health
In the opinions of Ifeoluwa and Olusegun (2015), media shapes the public’s opinions about issues that are of
importance, problems to be emphasized and it (media) dictate ways of thinking. Health communication is the
use of communication approaches in order to inform, influence and motivates individuals, institutions and
communities in making effective decisions to improve health (Keshvari, Yamani, Adibi & Shahnazi, 2018). News
about population and health has the potential to affect millions of people because they influence policy
makers, sensitize the public and thus help people live longer and healthier. Most people depend on the media
for information rather than information provided by the government or other sources (Odhiambo, 2000).
WHO (2011) defined good health as the state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity. In the past, media is consider to be very vital has proved critical in
the dissemination of critical information on family planning, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids. Media in many
occasions have been used to promote family planning and it has play a major role in disseminating essential
decisions, which have been identified as important in development planning (Odesanya, Hassan, & Olaluwoye,
2015). Researches has shown that information convey via mass media channels affects individual behaviours
directly or indirectly depending on the approach (Niederdeppe, Bigman, Gonzales & Gollust, 2013).
Since the media convey messages from sources to receivers, they have a responsibility to highlight what
constitutes a threat to individuals’ well-being in a society including issues on health. The health of a mother is
important for country and family or society as only healthy mothers beget healthy children. The media,
especially the new media have a responsibility to inform the populace on issues related to maternal health.
Researchers agreed unanimously that mass media have the potential to sensitize the public on health-related
4. 64 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
issues that endanger life or promote desired goals. Thus, health disparities in mass media could be due to the
way the findings or the way editor package and cover the healthcare stories (Nierderdeppe et al., 2013).
2.4 Health Journalism
Mass media is one of the famous and fee-effective public fitness advertising equipment globally and is one of
the foremost sources of facts on malaria, HIV/Aids, women’s fitness, and family planning among others. Some
countries have used mass media effectively at intervention centres for maternal health and HIV prevention
(Keshvari, Yamani, Adibi & Shahnazi, 2018).
Health Journalism refers to the dissemination of fitness related information to the public through media shops.
Through, the dissemination of health news, medical research output and health policies, mass media play a
leading role in health awareness and promotion (McCauley, Blake, Meissner & Viswanath, 2013), affecting the
knowledge and health beliefs of the public and eventually promoting public health (McCombs, 2013). The
influence of media on public belief is so huge that sometimes people adopt a new treatment due to the latest
health news they learn about through the media. Moreover, media highly affects decision of doctors,
policymakers and health professionals (Abroms & Maibach, 2013).
As health journalists need to be able to handle the progressively increasing amount of health system data,
quite a few studies have investigated the factors affecting scientific journalism, including communicating
science, the gap between scientists and journalists and tacit understanding of health literacy (Safari, Baratloo
& Yousefifard, 2015).
New media has extended the availability of news for lots of consumers and the Internet has made records
widely and instantly reachable to reporters and to the general public. However, declining in traditional media
viewership has brought about commercial enterprise selections that cut the resources for insurance of fitness
information (Keshvari, Yamani, Adibi & Shahnazi, 2018).
2.5 Social media and health promotion
Social media platforms are gradually becoming an indispensable tool for health literacy and an overall
improvement of health outcomes (Salmon & Arkins, 2003). The role of digital technology for social marketing
connotes that improvement in information technology offers an opportunities for health promotion in
engaging health professionals with their patients, and the mobilization of new clients (Lefebvre, 2007).
In line with 21st century impact of computer and Internet technologies (Neuhauser & Kreeps, 2010) affirms
that using social media for health communication will eliminate some of the inherent limitations of the
conventional health communication through improved customization, continuality, interactivity and mixed
media utilization. Thus, it can be argue that digitally enabled social media interventions such as mobile phones,
instant messaging, chat room forums and social networking sites are also particularly relevant for
communication of sexual and reproductive health issues (Fayoyin, 2016).
Available literatures have identified social media as a source of social support (Banjanin, Dimitrijevic & Pantic,
2015). A research by Vitak and Ellison (2013) revealed that individuals that reported experiencing social
connectedness through Facebook had lower anxiety and depression, and greater subjective wellbeing.
Facebook was found to assist individuals to gain support, which was significantly associated with offline social
support and similarly associated with wellbeing (Liu & Yu, 2013). Online social networks may be able to
influence social norms, an important element of health promotion interventions (Cobb & Graham, 2012).
Similarly, health technologies undoubtedly have enhanced the efficacy of prevention, diagnosis, and
treatment, but with some negative impacts, such as high costs of some health technologies and potential
ethical concerns, therefore, necessitating an appropriate health technology assessment (HTA) to unravel the
safety, efficacy, cost effectiveness, and ethical and social implications of various health technologies. The
RAND Corporation has recently recommended estimating the social value of health technologies by
5. 65 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
determining the difference between expected improvements in population health and the social costs
attributable to the health technologies themselves (Garber, Gates, Blume-Kohout, Burgdorf & Wu, 2011).
3. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
This study is anchored on the Uses and Gratification Theory. The theory originated from earlier media
researchers such as Lazarsfeld (1941) who studied the uses and gratifications theory in radio listening in USA,
and Katz, Blumler and Gurevitch (1974), who enunciated the basic points of the framework. The theory focuses
on media-audience research and on need approach to underscore how individuals use the media to meet their
needs and fulfilled their value-interest. Papacharissi (2009) posits that, individuals select media and content to
fulfill felt needs or wants, noting that the needs are expressed as motives for adopting a medium use. Gora
(2017) observes that the uses of media are dependent on the perception, selectivity and previously held
beliefs, values and interest of the people.
In addition, Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch (1974) and subsequently advances in media audience research and as
need-fulfillment approach to engage media content consumption noting that people have certain needs that
they wish to gratify from media usage behaviour. According to (Katz et al., 1974), the media use has the
following goals; 1. The audience is active and its media use is goal oriented. 2. People have various uses
(needs) they seek to satisfy through media. 3. Audience members take initiative to link need gratification to a
specific media. 4. The media compete with other sources for need satisfaction. 5. People have enough self-
awareness of their own media use, interests and motives to be able to provide researchers with accurate
picture of that use, and 6. Value judgment of media content can only be assumed by the audience.
Uses and gratifications theory is an approach to understanding why and how people actively seek out specific
media to satisfy specific needs. The Uses and Gratifications research hypothesis concentrates on components
impacting intentions in use and results for individuals' media-related conduct (Ozo-Mekuri and Kasarachi,
2006).
In simple term, Uses and gratification theory posits that media exposure leads to certain behaviors, sometimes
without a user’s conscious control. Uses and gratifications theory proposes that users or media consumers are
actively choosing specific media content according to their needs Therefore, Uses and gratifications theory is
applicable to this study, the way women in Minna metropolis perceive digital media maternal health
information determines the degree of influence that such media information would have on them.
4. RESEARCH DESIGN
4.1 Population of the Study
This study is mainly targeted at women population of reproductive age that visits healthcare facilities at both
primary and secondary healthcare centres across different wards in the two local government area that make the
metropolitan area of Minna, for either ante natal, neonatal or post-natal. To ensure that the actual target
population was captured, the respondents were targeted and approached while attending antenatal, neonatal or
post-natal at the various health centres in the different wards in the metropolis.
Out of the total population of 202,151, in both Chanchaga and Bosso, females’ population were estimated to be
169,989 as at year 2012 (Niger State Bureau of Statistics, 2012). Based on a simple random sampling technique,
a sample size of 384 women of reproductive age were drawn from each ward in the two local government areas
of Minna Metropolis. The instrument used for the study was survey questionnaire, which has two sections:
Section A comprises the demographic characteristics of the respondents, while Section B comprises of 31 items
based on 7-point Likert scale ranging from Very Strongly Disagree (VSD) to Very Strongly Agree (VSA). The
instrument was administered to the respondents and the response rate was 99.2%.
The validity of the instrument was established by sharing the instrument with experts in the field to append their
comments, views, opinions and suggestions which were incorporated into the instrument before being
administered to the respondents. While split-half reliability method was used to determine the reliability of the
research instrument and the correlation coefficient was 0.96, which indicates that the instrument was reliable.
6. 66 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
The data were analyzed for frequency and percentile using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
Data were analysed, tabulated and reported accordingly.
5. FINDINGS
Demographics of the Respondents
Findings reveal that the majority 238(62.47%) of the respondents were married, 45(11.81%) were single, while
98(25.72%) were divorced. As for age range, the majority 156(40.94%) of the respondents were within the age
range of 25-31 years, while 96(25.19%) were within 32-38 age range, whereas, 78(20.47%) and 51 (13.38%) are
within 18-24 years old and 39 and above respectively. Based on the academic qualification of the respondents,
the majority 142(37.27%) of the respondents had secondary education, while 87(22.83%) were university
graduates, 49(12.86%) had only primary education, 21(5.51%) had never attend any formal education, while
82(21.52%) had various types of degrees. The distribution shows that majority of the respondents had at least
one formal education or the other.
As for the occupation of the respondents, the findings show that the majority 171(44.88%) of the respondents
were civil servants, 41(10.76%) were farmers, 89(23.35%) were not formally employed, 31(8.14%) were into
business or trading, while 49(12.86%) of the respondents, indicated they were unemployed. Also, findings on
the respondents’ financial income show that, the majority 159(41.73%) of the respondents’ incomes fall within
the range of (N15,000 – N20,000) Naira per Month, 91(28.88%) were within the range of (N20,000 – N30,000)
Naira per Month, 78(20.47%) of the respondents’ income were within the range of (N30,000 – N40,000) Naira.
While, 28(7.34%) and 25(6.56%) were within the range of (N40,000 – 50,000) Naira and 50,000 Naira and
above respectively. Findings shows that the majority 230(60.37%) of the respondents owned a smart phone,
whereas 151(39.63%) have no smart phones at all.
Table 1 (above) displays the respondents’ exposure to health information on digital media. According to the
Table, the majority 109(28.61%) of the respondents agreed to have been exposed to maternal health through
the Internet discussion forum with value (Mean = 4.14), while an insignificant number 31(8.14%) of them were
very strongly disagreed to have been exposed to maternal health through the Internet discussion forum,
whereas 10(2.62%) of them were neutral. Another majority 107(28.08%) of the respondents agreed to know
about maternal health through the Internet sites (Mean = 3.88), this was followed by 111(29.13%) through
Whatsapp group (Mean = 4.09), while 81(21.26%) through social media with (Mean = 3.45), whereas
101(26.51%) of the respondents were very strong disagreed that they know about maternal health through
the Internet ebook (Mean = 3.11). This finding is in congruent with Rodger’s report that pregnant women are
seeking health information online (Rodger, 2013, p. 3).
7. 67 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
Table 2 (below) shows that the respondents’ responses to digital media sources for maternal health
information. According to the Table, the majority 121(31.76%) of the respondents agreed that they have used
the Internet as a source for maternal health information with (Mean = 3.97), while an insignificant number
21(19.84%) of the respondents disagreed, whereas 22(5.77%) of them maintained neutrality. In addition,
141(37.01%) agreed that they have used social networks for maternal health information with (Mean = 3.68),
while 103(27.03%) have used discussion forum (Mean = 3.89). Whereas 110(28.87%) of them were very
strongly disagreed that they have used Blogs for maternal health information (Mean = 3.11).
Table 2 (above) shows that the use of video media for maternal health information with (Mean = 3.06),
107(28.08%) of the respondents were strongly disagreed that they have used video media for maternal health
information, while 113(29.66%) of the respondents were strongly agreed to have used discussion forum for
maternal health information (Mean = 3.89). This finding is in congruent with O'Higgins, Mullaney and Turner’s
reports that discussion forum scored 70%, social networks 67% and video media 48%, as a type of sites use for
pregnancy related information (O'Higgins, Mullaney and Turner, 2014, p.9).
8. 68 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
Table 3 (above) highlights the digital media preference by rural women in Minna metropolis. According to the
Table, the majority 118(31.6%) of the respondents were strongly agreed that they preferred text message
reminder of an appointment with (Mean = 4.09), while 104(18.9%) preferred pregnancy application,
117(31.4%) disagreed that they preferred weight management application with (Mean = 3.01). Whereas,
113(30.3%) preferred pregnancy blog with (Mean = 4.12), 112(30.1%) disagreed that they preferred website
with access to ultrasound images with (Mean = 3.14), while another 101(17.1%) disagreed that they preferred
a hospital with Twitter page with (Mean = 3.14). Finally, 115(30.9%) preferred online videos with advice on
physiotherapy and 113(30.3%) of the respondents preferred website for feedback and suggestion on hospital
services with (Mean = 4.12) respectively.
The above finding is in congruent with O'Higgins, Mullaney and Turner’s report about women using the
maternity services in Ireland that reported high usage of digital media to obtain pregnancy information.
Women used digital media more than traditional media sources and that the use of digital media was
widespread amongst socially disadvantaged women (O'Higgins, Mullaney and Turner, 2014, p.5).
Table 4 (above) displays the respondents’ responses on existing digital media channels of communication
between healthcare givers and rural women of reproductive. According to the Table, the majority 124(33.2%)
of the respondents were strongly disagreed that they communicate with their Doctor/Nurse via the email with
(Mean =2.99), while 118(31.6%) claimed that they communicate with their Doctor/Nurse through phone with
(Mean=4.02), whereas 108(29%) of them agreed that they communicate with their Doctor/Nurse through
WhatsApp messages with (Mean =4.12). However, 110(29.5%) of the respondents were very strongly
disagreed that they communicate with their Doctor/Nurse through group discussion with (Mean=3.00), while
120(32.2%) were very strongly disagreed that they communicate with their Doctor/Nurse through Facebook
with (Mean=3.11). Finally, 111(30.5%) of the respondents were very strongly disagreed that they communicate
with their Doctor/Nurse through social media with (Mean=3.16).
Communication through phone and WhatsApp messages appears to be the predominant means of
communication between rural women and health workers (Mean = 4.02). Furthermore, a negligible few of the
respondents agreed to communicate with health experts through group discussion or social media (Mean =
3.00). Findings from the Table also show that email communication between the rural women and health
workers is not a popular choice, as only 58(3.93%) of the respondents agreed that they communicate with
health experts via email. Communication with Doctor/Nurse through group discussion recorded a Mean of
2.99. But those who communicate with their Doctor/Nurse through WhatsApp messages scored the highest
9. 69 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
Mean value (Mean = 4.12). This finding confirms the report of Wei, Pong, Shi, Ming, Tang, Mao, Liu and Chen
(2017) which suggest that contacts, collaboration and relationships are major factors leading to successful
knowledge translation (KT) (p.55).
In terms of the challenges of using digital media, Table 5 (above), reveals that the majority 115(30.9%) of the
respondents agreed that lack of local content on maternal health issues in Nigeria is a challenge (Mean = 4.09),
while 108(29%) also agreed that there was an inadequacy of relevant maternal health information, whereas
101(27.1%) disagreed that an inadequate knowledge of Internet surfing skills was a challenge (Mean = 3.08).
However, 113(30.1%) of the respondents disagreed very slow network and unstable Internet connectivity were
challenges of using digital media (Mean =3.19), while 87(23.2%) of them were very strongly agreed that high
cost of data to access Internet was a challenge to using the digital media (Mean = 3.45), whereas 107(28.7%) of
them disagreed that epileptic power supply was a challenge (Mean=3.01). Finally, 95(24.3%) of the
respondents agreed that software and battery issues were some of the challenges of using the digital media
(Mean=4.01).
Lack of local content on maternal health issue and inadequacy of relevant maternal health information are the
main possible challenges. This finding is congruent with Christakis and Fowler (2011), where it was stated that
the use of digital media seems to be more for ‘information blast’ or ‘message storm’ around specific health
issues.
Answering the research questions
RQ1. What is the level of exposure of rural women in Minna metropolis to health information on
digital media?
Table 1 is taking into cognizance in answering this research question. According to the Table, the majority of
the respondents agreed to have been exposed to maternal health through internet discussion forum, while
substantial number of the respondents strongly agreed to know about maternal health through the Internet
sites, whereas considerable amount of them agreed to know through WhatsApp group. Going by the
distribution from Table 1, one can deduce that most of the women in Minna metropolis are exposed to
maternal health information through digital media. That is, there is high level of exposure of rural women in
Minna metropolis to health information on digital media.
RQ2. What digital media sources are available for maternal health information among rural
women in Minna metropolis?
10. 70 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
Table 2 showed that the majority of the respondents were strongly agreed to have used social networks for
maternal health information, while considerable number of the respondents agreed to have used the Internet
for maternal health information, while. Consequently, the study can sum up that the Internet and WhatsApp
are the digital media sources for maternal health information among women in Minna metropolis.
RQ3. What are the digital services wanted by rural women in Minna metropolis?
As for the research question 3, Table 3 revealed that the majority of the respondents want text message
reminder of an appointment, while substantial amount of them want online pregnancy application, while yet
considerable number of them preferred discussion forum. Whereas, relevant amount of the respondents
agreed that they want pregnancy blog for maternal health information. The data distribution shows that the
respondents have high preference for online videos with advice on physiotherapy and website for feedback
and suggestion on hospital services are the digital services wanted by women in Minna metropolis.
RQ4. What are the existing digital media channels of communication between healthcare givers
and rural women of reproductive age Minna metropolis?
Table 4 showed that the majority of the respondents indicated that they communication their Doctor or Nurse
through phone, communication with Doctor or Nurse through WhatsApp messages were substantial. Email
communication between rural women in Minna metropolis and health workers is not common, as only
negligible number of the respondents to agree very strongly that they communicate with health experts
through email. This shows that communication through phone and WhatsApp messages are the predominant
means of communication between rural women and health workers.
RQ5. What is the Challenge of using digital media?
In regards of research question 5, findings revealed that it can be deduced that lack of local content on
maternal health issue, inadequate relevant maternal health information, high cost of data to access Internet
and software and battery issues are major challenges facing utilization of digital media as a source of maternal
health information. The lack of local content on maternal health issue and inadequate relevant maternal
health information as a challenges is in line with Christakis and Fowler(2011), where it was stated that the use
of digital media seems to be more for ‘information blast’ or ‘message storm’ around specific health issues.
Furthermore, software and battery issues challenges could be explain from the point that many of the
respondents accessed the digital media sources on their mobile phone, with online contents that is not
optimized for mobile phone. Thus, there is need to designed maternal health issues on digital platform
specifically tailored toward mobile phones.
6. DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
Based on the data analyses, it could be deduced that the majority of rural women in Minna metropolis, are
very much exposed to maternal health information on digital media. Their exposure is largely from internet
discussion forum, internet sites, Whatsap group and social media. This therefore, implies that rural women in
Minna metropolis are expose and seeking maternal health information through different digital media
platforms. This finding is similar to (Rodger, 2013), where they found out that pregnant women are seeking
health information online.
Finding also shows that Internet, social networks and discussion forum appears to be the major sources of
maternal health information among rural women in Minna metropolis. This result is in tandem with (O'Higgins,
Mullaney & Turner, 2014), where Internet sites and Internet discussion forums scores 36% and 25%
respectively as the highest among the digital media cited as useful for pregnancy information. As for the digital
services wanted by rural women in Minna metropolis, text message as reminder of an appointment, pregnancy
application, and discussion forum, online videos with advice on physiotherapy and pregnancy blog appears to
be the most preferred digital media services want by the majority of the respondents. This findings also find
11. 71 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
support from the research by (O'Higgins, Mullaney & Turner, 2014), where discussion forum score 70%, social
networks 67% and video media 48%, as a type of sites use for pregnancy related information.
Furthermore, we found out that phone communication and WhatsApp messages are the most common
existing digital media channels of communication between healthcare givers and rural women of reproductive
age in Minna metropolis. This medium is usually informal, where the health workers are either friends,
relatives or friend of a friend. Discussion forum, WhatsApp group or Facebook page communication between
the health workers and women is not yet common among the respondents as revealed from the study. As for
the challenges, lack of local content on maternal health issue and inadequate relevant maternal health
information is revealed to be one of the challenges. Software and battery issues challenges is also rated high as
a challenges, this could be explain from the point that many of the respondents accessed the digital media
sources on their mobile phone, with online contents that is not optimized for mobile phone, therefore put
pressure on the phone battery.
7. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, findings of the study show that even in the 21st century, people still prefers the mass media for
their health information need. There is high usage of digital media to obtain maternal health information, with
the majority using the Internet discussion forum, Internet sites, WhatsApp group and social media. Many of
the respondents owned a smartphone and there was high utilization of digital media platforms for maternal
health information. Also, findings reveal that discussion forums and social media platforms are the most
preferred source of maternal health information. This could be explain from the sense of community with
other women with similar life experiences created by these platforms. Finally, the use of social media in the
provision of maternal health information for rural women needed to be improved on in Minna metropolis. This
inadequate provision could be attributed to the under-developing nature of the region.
Recommendations
Based on the findings and conclusion drawn from the study, the following recommendations are made:
1) The content for digital media can be made available in local languages for better comprehension.
2) Healthcare professionals in maternity services should accept the challenge of digital media so
that the rural women will be well informed.
3) The effectiveness of all digital media should be measured at regular intervals to ensure that rural
women are not consuming the wrong information.
4) There should be a concerted effort geared towards how to effectively use the digital media to
educate rural women on their maternal health need.
8. References
1. Abroms, L.C. & Maibach, EW. (2013). The effectiveness of mass communication to change public behavior.
Public Health 29, 219‑34.
2. Babalola, S. & Fatusi, A. (2009). Determinants of use of maternal health services in Nigeria – looking beyond
individual and household factors. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 9 (34), 1-18.
3. Banjanin, N., Dimitrijevic, I. & Pantic, I. (2015). Relationship between internet use and depression: focus on
physiological mood oscillations, social networking and online addictive behavior. Comput Hum Behav. 43,
308–12.
4. Cobb, N.K. & Graham, A. L. (2012). Health behavior interventions in the age of Facebook. Am J Prev Med.
43(5), 571–2.
5. Cooke, J., & Tahir, F. (2013). Maternal health in Nigeria: with leadership, progress is possible. A report of the
CSIS Global Health Policy Centre. Rhode Island, Washington DC: Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Retrieved March 20, 2019 from:
https://csis.org/files/publication/130111_Cooke_MaternalHealthNigeria_Web.pdf.
6. Christakis, N. & Fowler, J. (2011). Connected: The Amazing Power of Social Networks and How They Shape
our Lives. Harper Press, London.
12. 72 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
7. Fayoyin, A. (2016). Engaging Social Media for Health Communication in Africa: Approaches, Results and
Lessons, Journal of Mass Communication & Journalism, 6(6), 1 -7.
8. Fadeyi, A. O. (2007). Determinants of Maternal Health Care in Lagos, Nigeria. Ife Social Sciences Review.
22(1): 38-48
9. Gabrysch, S., & Campbell, O. (2009). Still too far to walk: Literature review of the determinants of delivery
service use. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 9(34), 1-18.
10. Garber, S., Gates, S.M., Blume-Kohout, M.E., Burgdorf, J.R. & Wu, H. (2011) Challenges to Value-enhancing
Innovation in Health Care Delivery: Commonalities and Contrasts with Innovation in Drugs and Devices,
Occasional Paper No. OP-341-EMKF, RAND, Santa Monica, CA.
11. Germaine, T. (2015). Mothers’ Perceptions and Experiences of Accessing Maternal Health Care: Exploring the
Role of Community Health Workers and Continuing Professional Development in Rwanda: Electronic Thesis
and Dissertation Repository. Paper 2832.
12. Gora, S. (2017). Uses and gratification theory of mass communication. Retrieved from
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/uses-gratification-theory-mass-communication-sanjay-gora
13. Ifeoluwa, A. O. & Olusegun, O.W. (2015). Influence of Television Health Programmes on Maternal Health.
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 5, No. 8(1). Retrieved from
http://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol_5_No_8_1_August_2015/23.pdf
14. Jane, M. Hagger, M. Foster, J., Ho, S. & Pal, S. (2018). Social media for health promotion and weight
management: a critical debate, BMC Public Health, 18:932.
15. Johnson, S.A. (2014). “Maternal Devices”, Social Media and the Self-Management of Pregnancy, Mothering
and Child Health, Societies 4(1), 330–350. Retrieved from doi:10.3390/soc4020330.
16. Katz, E., Blumler, J. G. & Gurevitch, M. (1974). “Uses and Gratifications Research,” The Public Opinion
Quarterly. JSTOR.Web (1973–1974), 4(37), 509-23.
17. Keshvari, M., Yamani, N., Adibi, P., & Shahnazi, H. (2018). Health journalism: Health reporting status and
challenges. Iranian J Nursing Midwifery Res., 23:14-7.
18. Lupton, D. (2017). Digital media and body weight, shape, and size: An introduction and review. An
Interdisciplinary Journal of Body Weight and Society, 6(2), 119-134.
19. Lefebvre, R. C. (2007). The New Technology: The Consumer as Participants Rather than Target Audience.
SMQ 13: 31-42.
20. Liu, C.Y. & Yu, C.P. (2013). Can Facebook use induce well-being? Cyberpsychology, behavior and social
networking, 16(9), 674–8.
21. Lazarsfeld, P. (1941). Remarks on administrative and critical Communications research. Studies in Philosophy
and Social Science, 9, 2-16.
22. McCauley, M.P., Blake, K.D., Meissner, H., & Viswanath, K. (2013). The social group influences of US health
journalists and their impact on the news making process. Health Education Resource, 28:339‑51.
23. Mensah, F.A (2008). The Spiritual Basis of Health and Illness in Africa. In T. Falola, and McCombs, M. (2013).
Setting the agenda: The mass media and public opinion. John Wiley & Sons.
24. Neuhauser, L. & Kreeps, G.L. (2010). E-health Communication and Behaviour Change. Promise and
Performance. Social Semiotics, 20: 7-24.
25. Niederdeppe, J., Bigman, C., Gonzales, A., & Gollust, S. (2013). Communication about health disparities in the
mass media. Journal of Communication, 63, 8-30.
26. Odesanya, A., Hassan, S. & Olaluwoye, D. (2015). Mass Media and Maternal Healthcare: A Critical Discourse.
New Media and Mass Communication, 34, 20- 26.
27. Odhiambo, F.O. (2000). The information behaviour of Kenyan medical scientists, PhD thesis submitted to
South borough University. Retrieved from https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-
jspui/bitstream/2134/7274/4/Thesis-2000-Odhiambo.pdf.
28. O'Higgins, A., Mullaney, L. & Turner, M.J. (2014). The Use of Digital Media by Women Using the Maternity
Services in a Developed Country. Irish medical journal. Retrieved from
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/623a/fad2059244ebc06df703ea2fbea53f69f228.pdf?_ga=2.68965841.1592
667494.1575811208-906105931.1570112720.
29. Ozo-Mekuri, N. & Kasarachi, I. (2006). Fundamentals of Mass Communication. Port Harcourt: M and J. Grand
Orbit Communications Ltd.
13. 73 Asian Journal of Social Science and Management Technology
30. Papacharissi, Z. (2009). “Uses and gratifications” in An Integrated Approach to Communication Theory and
Research, ed. Don Stacks and Michael Salwen. New York: Routledge.
31. Putland, C., Baum, F, Ziersch, A, Arthurson, K, Pomagalska, D. (2013). Enabling pathways to health equity:
developing a framework for implementing social capital in practice. BMC Public Health. 13(1):517.
32. Rodger, D. (2013). Promoting Maternal Health-Media Uses and Preferences. Applied Communication
Collaborative Research Unit. Retrieved from
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/accru/projects/healthebaby/Health-e_Baby_Report_2.pdf.
33. Safari, S., Baratloo, A.M. & Yousefifard, M., (2015). Medical journalism and emergency medicine. Emerg;
3:83.
34. Salmon, C.T. & Arkins, C. (2003). Using Media Campaigns for Health Promotion. In Saving Newborn Lives in
Nigeria - SNLN (n.d): Newborn Health in the Context of the Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
Strategy. Abuja: Federal Ministry of Health/Save the Children/. Accessed 29th March, 2019.
35. Sinai, I., Anyanti, J., Khan, M., Daroda, R. & Oguntunde, O. (2017). Demand for Women’s Health Services in
Northern Nigeria: A Review of the Literature, African Journal of Reproductive Health 2017; 21(2): 96-108.
36. USAID (2013). Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP). Retrieved from
http://nigeria.usaid.gov/programs/health-population-and-nutrition/projects/maternal-and-child-
healthintergrated-program-mchi
37. WHO (2010). Trends in maternal mortality: 1990 to 2008. Retrieved:
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241500265_eng.pdf
38. WHO (2011). Maternal Health Source. Retrieved f.rom www.who.int/topics/maternal_health/en/.
39. World Bank (2011) World Development Indicators. USA: Washington, D.C.
40. Wei, Y. & Pong, R.W. & Shi, L. & Ming, J. & Tang, M. & Mao, Y. & Liu, W. & Chen, Y. (2017). Perceptions of
health technology assessment knowledge translation in China: a qualitative study on HTA researchers and
policy-makers. Int. J. Healthcare Technology and Management,16(1/2),44-58.Retrieved from DOI:
10.1504/IJHTM.2017.087599
INFO:-
Corresponding Author: Abdulhameed Kayode Agboola, Department of Information and Media
Technology, School of Information and Communication Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna
Nigeria
How to cite this article: Abdulhameed Kayode Agboola, Rural Women Perceptions of Digital Media
Influence on Awareness Creation about Maternal Health Information in Minna, Nigeria, Asian. Jour. Social.
Scie. Mgmt. Tech. 2(3): 61-73, 2020.