Media Use for Health Information Dissemination to Rural Communities by the Ghana Health Service
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Date
2018-02
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Journal of Information Science, Systems and Technology
Abstract
The study investigated the patterns and challenges of media use for disseminating health information
to rural communities by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), focusing on the Shai Osudoku district of
the Greater Accra Region, as a case study. A case study approach using the convenient and purposive
sampling techniques was used to sample 210 community members within Shai Osudoku district, two
directors with the GHS and four community health workers. Descriptive analyses were used to
examine the quantitative data, while qualitative thematic content analysis was used for the interview
data from the GHS staff. The study found out that the GHS mostly used print media for health
information dissemination namely leaflets, posters, billboard, and interpersonal channels like
doctors, community health workers, family, friends, town cries, group discussions, etc. MoTech
(Mobile technology for community health) and telehealth are some of the technologies being piloted
in delivering health information or care via the mobile phone to rural communities in the district.
Challenges in disseminating health information in the communities were inadequate mobile network
connectivity, infrastructure, training and sensitization, among others. The findings suggest that the
GHS can enhance its health information dissemination roles by supporting the use of traditional
media with the overwhelming advantages of media such as mobile phones to disseminate health
information to rural communities. The study recommends that future research focus on exploring
potential mechanisms for monitoring the quality of health communication delivery using the new
media.
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Keywords
Health Information Dissemination, Print Media, Mobile Technologies, Rural Communities, Ghana Health Service