AN ASSESSMENT OF GUNDUMA HEALTH SYSTEM’S COMMUNICATION STRATEGY ON MATERNAL HEALTH IN JIGAWA STATE
AN ASSESSMENT OF GUNDUMA HEALTH SYSTEM’S COMMUNICATION STRATEGY ON MATERNAL HEALTH IN JIGAWA STATE
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Date
2020-01
Authors
WURNO, Hussaini Sani
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Abstract
Maternal health is one of the major concerns of the global health community. Pregnancy-related
mortality is avoidable if preventive measures are taken and adequate care is available. Yet
women especially in northern Nigeria continue to die due to pregnancy-related complications. In
this regard, this study set out to examine the Communication Strategy of Gunduma Health
Systems on maternal health, and how it affects the beneficiaries. The study was prompted by the
high rate of maternal death especially in the northern part of Nigeria, despite all efforts by
various stakeholders; there has been concentrated effort on the proximate determinants of
maternal mortality, with less emphasis on communication and other social determinants. Three
objectives were pursued which included, to identify the communication strategies deployed by
Gunduma health system in promoting awareness on maternal Health, to also evaluate the
effectiveness of the communication strategies used in the promotion of maternal health, and to
identify challenges the people face in the process of accessing maternal health information and
services. Systematic review of literature was carried out, which revealed that communication is
always a vital factor, in the fight against maternal mortality. Additionally, literatures revealed
that there is a strong correlation between socioeconomic indicators and maternal health. There is
also a point of agreement among scholars that maternal health has a variety of factors, and the
implication is, in tackling the menace, approach should be multidimensional. More importantly,
the study utilized Health Belief Model for its theoretical framework. The study was conducted in
Nahuce, Babaldu, Buji, Wurno, Bamaina all in Birninkudu Local Government Area (LGA) of
JigawaState from September, 2015 to May 2019 using 384 respondents to whom a structured
questionnaire was administered. Some key informants were also interviewed. Concurrently,
Focus Group Discussions were conducted. It was observed that, communication has a strong
impact on maternal health awareness, various communication tools were used by the
government, however, with Radio being a major source of information. It was discovered that
there is a significant increase in level of programe acceptance among the people. Also it was
discovered that role conflict is still a factor against maternal death reduction. . Additionally it
was discovered that there is high level economic dependency among rural women. The findings
presented in this study show that maternal health challenges will continue to shape national
indicators, because there are certain areas that need to be incorporated in order to have a
comprehensive approach, in tackling the problem. The study recommends that to reduce
maternal morbidity and mortality, intervention programmes by both Jigawa state and Federal
government of Nigeria must be introduced to deal with maternal health in a broad and
multidimensional way.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND PERFORMING ARTS ,
FACULTY OF ARTS,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
AN ASSESSMENT,, MATERNAL HEALTH,, JIGAWA STATE., GUNDUMA HEALTH SYSTEM’S,, COMMUNICATION STRATEGY,