Radio Enlightenment Campaigns against Open Defecation: Audience Perception in Oyo East Local Government Area, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed audience perception of radio enlightenment campaigns against open defecation issues in Oyo East Local Government Area of Oyo State. The study is designed to ascertain the nature of radio public enlightenment campaigns in Oyo East Local Government Area; to determine the effectiveness of radio medium in the campaigns against open defecation in Oyo East Local Government Area; and to know the factors militating against open defecation-free practice in Oyo East Local Government Area. Survey design was adopted for the study and data were gathered through the use of questionnaire. Two-hundred copies of the questionnaire were administered on the residents of the ten wards of the Oyo East Local Government Area, who constitute the respondents, and were selected through a purposive sampling technique. The findings show that radio public enlightenment campaigns were all about behavioural change communication, effective in the enlightenment of citizens against open defecation and stimulate positive attitudinal change. Findings also showed that some factors militating against open defecation-free practice in Oyo East Local Government Area of Oyo State are lack of public convenience by government, non availability of water for sanitation, and false cultural beliefs. Radio has been the most effective medium in terms of the dissemination of health-related messages to widely dispersed audience, especially in the rural areas of Nigeria. Toilet sanitation campaigns should be sustained by the development agencies and partners, Ministries of water Resources and Ministries of Health both at State and Federal levels. Finally, it is recommended that government should sustain the use of radio for public enlightenment campaigns to bring about the desired positive change in behaviour against open defecation practice.