Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 4

APPLYING COMMUNICATION PROCESS

TO HEALTH CARE ISSUE IN NIGERIA

AN ASSIGNMENT PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR SEMESTER EXAMINATION ON COMMUNICATION AND HEALTH (PUH 842)

BY IBEH CHINEDU OBINNA PG/MPH/11/61240

INTRODUCTION Human beings usually employ language for the primary goal of communicating their messages and feeling among themselves. Communication is the exchange of information e.g. by means of speaking, writing or using a common system of signs or behaviour1. Communication is critical to Leadership, Management and indeed extremely critical in Healthcare delivery from the patient/public up to the Healthcare provider and vice versa. It lies at the heart of every aspect of Health including disease prevention, health promotion, treatment and care of clinical cases2. Therefore, timely, accessible and credible health information is important in improving public health care. COMMUNICATION PROCESS This is a simple model that demonstrates all the factors that can affect communication. Communication is effective if the message that is received is the same one that is sent and it can only be termed successful when the reaction of the receiver is that which the communicator intended. The Ecological model of communication which evolved from Shannon and Intermediary models with inputs from the Interactive and Transactional models3 explains the cycle of effective and successful communication process.

Become Creators When the reply or provide feedsack

Creators

Imagine and Create

Messages
Using
L an g u ag e

Observe, attribute & interprete

Consumers

U se,

inven

Within
t and e vol v e

Media

, am Te

ia soc

ew lis

in ith

Figure 1 Ecological Model of Communication Process 1. 2. 3.


Encarta Dictionaries Communication Initiative Network. Online. <http://www.cominit.com/en/nod/2115> [accessed 02/04/12] Ikechukwu Obi [04/03/12] Communication Process Lecture [ email to Chinedu Ibeh ] online. Available email distinct20032004@yahoo.com

APPLICATION OF COMMUNICATION PROCESS TO HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IN NIGERIA Nigeria is facing devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic and the key to its control is through an open communication of the aetiological factors and the prevention mechanisms. In Nigeria today, about 3.1 million people are estimated to be HIV positive with a cumulative AIDS deaths of 2.1 million. The key to halting by 2015 and to begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS4 is through effective communication via direct application of communication process model in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS information. CREATORS/SOURCES OF HIV/AIDS INFORMATION: Rag recognised the following important anti HIV/AIDS Campaigners: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Federal Ministry of information and their State/local Government counterparts. National Agency for the Control of AIDS National Orientation Agency International Development Agencies like: USAID,DFID,SIDA. Non Governmental Organisation (NGOs), Faith Based Organisations (FBO), Education Based organisations (EBO) Parents and Teachers etc5

CHANNELS OF TRANSMISSION The campaigns are sustained through various ways among which include: 1. radio and television jingles 2. talk show programs 3. pamphlet 4. newspapers and magazines 5. posters, adverts and billboards 6. door to door campaigns 7. musical concerts and road side shows 8. seminars and symposia etc6 . MESSAGE: HIV/AIDS message has been primarily centred on its mode of transmission and methods of prevention. Emphasis on the fact that it has no cure is also made. Stigmatization of affected/infected individuals is discouraged and the need for one to know his/her status is highlighted. Sex education and adolescent friendly sexual health services , outreach and support programmes are also stressed. 7 . 4. 5.
6. United Nations: Millennium Development Goal Report.2008. Salisu Mohammed Raj, Public Awareness and Sensitization of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria :June 2008, the Journal of pan African Studies, p.216 <http://www.Jpanafrican.com/docs/vol2 No 4/2.4 public_Awareness.pdf> [accessed 02/04/12]. Ibid. p. 217 Fawole A.O etal: Sexual Behaviour and Perception of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria : February 2011. Global journal of human social sciences vol3 issue 1 version 1.0 pp.65-72. http://www.globaljounals.org/GJHSS vol2/7/ sexual_behaviour_and _perception_of_HIV/AIDS_in_Nigeria.pdf [accessed 02/04/12].

7.

CONSUMERS: The principal targets of the campaign is of course the general public. The public is reached at homes, churches, schools, work places, hospitals, streets, markets, prisons, NYSC Camps, military and police barracks FEEDBACK: HIV Communication strategy so far is in most cases ONE WAY, MESSAGE CENTERED and UN-INTERACTIVE thus expected behavioural/attitudinal changes has not being impressive. Rag attested to this in his study as majority of his respondents did not feel influences by the awareness and sensitization campaign text on HIV/AIDS. NOISE: This is the barrier to effective communication of HIV/AIDS Campaign program. These could be internal or external. INTERNAL INCLUDE: 1. high level of illiteracy amongst the populace 2. fatigue 3. poor listening skills 4. negative attitude 5. problem at home EXTERNAL INCLUDE: 1. high technical words 2. poor coordination of activities of stakeholders SUMMARY During the 80s, American AIDS advocates co-opted the phrase Silence Equals Death8 to highlight the danger of lack of effective information and communication around HIV/AIDS; so if MDG 6 target 7 is to be attained (which is to have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS), transactional method of communication where the communication process is adapted completely in the spread of HIV/AIDS information must be the watchword.

8. Silence = Death: April 2003 ; Encyclopedia of AIDS <.http://www.backspace.com/notes/2003/o4/silence_death.php> [accessed 02/04/12]

Вам также может понравиться