Analysis of health information sources available to rural farming households in Ondo state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study identified various health information sources at the disposal of the rural farming households in nine selected Local Government Areas (LGA) of Ondo state, Nigeria. The perceived characteristics of the identified health information sources was also examined. The study determined how these perceived health information characteristics influenced the adoption of three selected public health programmes (Family planning, Immunization and Roll Back Malaria). Data from 272 households were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the analysis showed that majority of the respondents indicated radio as the first source of information about the three health programmes. For example, radio was the first source of information about Family Planning (71.0% of the respondents). There was no significant relationship between adoption of (Family planning, Immunization and Roll Back Malaria) and the first source of information about these public health programmes. It was recommended that stakeholders in the development of rural public health programmes should take advantage of radio as a means of health information dissemination and ensure it is strengthened for sustained use.