Mobile family planning drama.

Abstract

Indigenous channels of communication are being used in Africa as a means of reaching rural populations and communicating messages about family planning. Folk media is particularly suitable in Nigeria which has a strong tradition of folk presentations. In Ogun state Nigeria which had a population of 2.3 million people in 1991 a government-sponsored IEC mobile team with aid from USAID and the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Services produced a family planning drama and other media to improve motivation and communication about family planning to workers and clients. The mobile drama aimed to inform audiences about the health and social benefits of family planning in ways sensitive to Yoruba cultural ideas about child bearing and rearing; the aim was also to provide the names and locations of family planning service providers. Focus groups were used to develop the script. Local artists presented the drama during November 1988 and April 1989. Publicity preceded the arrival of the drama troupe. After the play actors made visits to the local family planning clinic. Evaluation was based on sample surveys of audiences before and after performances and on clinic statistics 6 months before and after performances. 97.3% of the audience expressed a desire to seek more family planning information. Visits to clinics increased by 81% from 316/month to 573. New acceptors increased by over 100%. Revisits increased by 63%.