Challenges and opportunities: Women’s participation in Health Watch – Fistula Programme on Radio Nigeria, Abuja.

Abstract

This study investigates the societal implications of Radio Nigeria's Health Watch Programme, Fistula Edition, specifically focusing on its influence on women in Abuja, Nigeria. The research centres on two crucial aspects: obstetric fistulas and overall maternal health. It employs a methodological approach that encompasses a survey involving 300 women distributed across six council areas in Abuja. The findings reveal a marked increase in positive health behavioural patterns among women, indicating the programme's effectiveness. However, the study highlights significant gaps, particularly in child and maternal health. The data unveils a concerning trend: approximately 63.3% of women report low exposure to the radio programme. This lack of exposure is further compounded by the fact that 62% of the surveyed women do not regularly listen to or participate in the programme. A predominant reason cited for this is the incompatibility of the broadcast times with their busy schedules, indicating a disconnect between the programme scheduling and the target audience's daily lives. Based on these findings, the study puts forward several recommendations. Key among them is the need to tailor programme content more closely to the local environments of the listeners. Adjusting broadcast times to suit the schedules of the target demographic better is also suggested, along with a call for increased community involvement in the programme. These recommendations aim to enhance women's engagement with health programmes, thereby addressing the critical maternal health challenges prevalent in the region. The significance of this research lies in its emphasis on the urgency of addressing obstetric fistula, a particularly pervasive issue in Nigeria. The study underscores the necessity of employing targeted approaches to improve women’s engagement with health programmes, thereby effectively combating maternal health challenges in the region.