A nationally representative online survey was conducted in the United States in July 2020 to exam... more A nationally representative online survey was conducted in the United States in July 2020 to examine the role of social media use in knowledge about COVID-19, compliance with public health guidelines, and protective behaviors. Building on the Protection Motivation Theory, the analysis revealed that threat severity perceptions and self-efficacy, but not vulnerability perceptions, mediated the negative impact of social media use during the pandemic. Implications for theory, risk communication via social media, and the public are discussed.
Global transformations in media and communication research, 2016
Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are viewed as important tools in preventing global ... more Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are viewed as important tools in preventing global epidemics through facilitation of rapid collection and dissemination of information, interaction and communication between user groups and inter-agency collaborations. In the African context, use of ICTs for health purposes has become particularly critical due to disease burden and the significant erosion of healthcare infrastructure amidst limited human and financial resources, which makes most of the population vulnerable to health threats. When practiced appropriately and with the necessary guiding policies and resources in place, ICTs have great potential to improve health service efficiency, expand or scale up treatment delivery to thousands of patients in developing countries, and improve patient outcomes. The goal of this chapter is to explore the use of ICTs in HIV/AIDS Communication in Kenya, one of the most impacted countries in the African region.
International Journal of Communication, Jan 17, 2008
HIV/AIDS continues to advance relentlessly in the developing countries with the Caribbean ranking... more HIV/AIDS continues to advance relentlessly in the developing countries with the Caribbean ranking second to sub-Saharan Africa in rates of infection. Using the social influence theory that recognizes the role of opinion leaders in social and behavioral change, this study examines the contributions of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Jamaica. Through data gathered qualitatively from FBO members and persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), this article demonstrates that religion plays a crucial role in the Jamaican culture and that religious leaders have the potential to address the widespread HIV/AIDS epidemic in their communities. Many of them have established programs that provide social, psychological, and physical support and have collaborated with health organizations to initiate health educational programs that seek to impact understanding to motivate behavioral change. This FBO integrative approach complements mass media public awareness HIV/AIDS campaigns but is hampered by HIV/AIDS-related stigma, socio-cultural and religious beliefs, the lack of HIV/AIDS policies, and the inadequate capacity among religious leaders to address the epidemic. This article recommends further research on strategies to incorporate spirituality into health communication interventions, as well as on the overall impact of the FBO approach to HIV/AIDS prevention in the Caribbean region. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is spreading fast in the world, thus becoming a catastrophic health and development concern. It continues to advance relentlessly, emerging as one of the greatest public health challenges in contemporary times (Bertrand, 2004). The Caribbean has been hard hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with a current estimate of 230,000 [210,000-270,000] people living with HIV (UNAIDS, 2007) and an overall HIV prevalence of 2.11% of the population (Camara, 2005). AIDS is now the leading cause of death among the 18-45 year age group, but the severity of the epidemic in the Caribbean region is often
Women in sub-Saharan Africa account for more than half (58%) of people living with the HIV and it... more Women in sub-Saharan Africa account for more than half (58%) of people living with the HIV and it is the only continent where HIV prevalence is higher for women than for men. Studies have attributed alcoholism with the high rates of HIV infection due to its impact on sexual behaviour and arousal. African countries with high rates of alcoholism also reportedly have higher rates of HIV infection. This study explores rural communities' perspectives on the risk factors for HIV infection among women who are in alcohol discordant relationships where the man drinks alcohol excessively. Data were gathered through focus group discussions in rural central Kenya where alcoholism has reached epidemic levels. Key findings indicate the perceived severity of alcoholism, the perceived impact of alcoholism on men's reproductive health and the unmet sexual and reproductive needs of women in alcohol discordant relationships. Women engage in risky sexual behaviours in an attempt to meet these needs. Such risky behaviour in addition to alcohol-related sexual violence and low response-efficacy for safer sexual practices make them vulnerable to HIV infection and enhances the spread of HIV within communities. The study concludes that in preventing HIV infection among women in alcohol communities affected by alcohol, it is important to focus on their response efficacy. Intervention programmes that focus on HIV prevention among older married women and that integrate alcohol and HIV prevention are long overdue.
Introduction: Youth empowerment programs have increasingly gained attention in public health as e... more Introduction: Youth empowerment programs have increasingly gained attention in public health as emphasis shifts on children and adolescents as decision makers in their health and well-being. Adolescence obesity is among the public health concerns that require more active engagement at individual and community level while empowering adolescents to take charge of their own health. This study examines the influence of youth empowerment on nutritional and physical activity factors associated with adolescence obesity. Methods: Data were gathered through a self-administered survey among adolescents (N = 410) ages 11-15 years in three U.S. States-Kansas, Ohio and South Dakota. Results: Findings show that youth empowerment significantly influences adolescents' self-efficacy, perceptions for healthy food choice, healthy eating, attitudes towards physical activity and the overall motivation for health. Gender differences exist in adolescents' self-efficacy for physical activity whereas ethnicity played a role in perceived youth empowerment and perceived barriers to healthy eating. Age was also a significant contributor in efficacy for healthy food choice and perception of healthy food availability. Conclusions: This study suggests more focus on youth empowerment in interventions that seek to reduce obesity and improve adolescents' overall health by creating environments where they can play a more active decision-making role. With empowerment, adolescents are more likely to be motivated to adopt healthier dietary habits and engage more in physical activity. Further research would establish the impact of youth empowerment on obesity reduction and other public health problems that impact children across ages.
This study examines the interpersonal communication approach to HIV/AIDS prevention within Faith-... more This study examines the interpersonal communication approach to HIV/AIDS prevention within Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in Jamaica. Applying concepts from the social influence and social learning theories, the study examines communication strategies, challenges and concerns that religious leaders face in their communication efforts. Data gathered qualitatively through focus groups and in-depth interviews indicate that FBOs are social and cultural entities with potential to influence knowledge, attitude and behaviour for HIV/AIDS prevention. However, issues related to content, context, culture, the prevailing AIDS-related stigma alongside religious leaders' personal characteristics hamper their communication initiatives. Capacity building of leaders as HIV/AIDS communicators and behaviour change facilitators and a collaborative effort between FBOs and health organizations would enhance their HIV/AIDS response. Health communication encompasses mass and interpersonal communication in promoting and sustaining desired health behaviour change (Bertrand 2004; Rogers 1994). In the past three decades, the field has experienced a shift of focus away from issues of treatment and towards an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention through changing individual behaviours (Morton and Duck 2001). However, HIV/AIDS has emerged as one of the greatest public health challenges that has proved difficult to stop in spite of the public health community having dramatic success in other areas of disease prevention (Bertrand 2004).
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to enable community members to discuss their perceptions o... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to enable community members to discuss their perceptions of eating habits and physical activity in relation to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, and reveal facilitators and barriers to healthy eating behavior and physical activity engagement. Design/methodology/approach – Nine focus groups, which included six groups from sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, two parents’ groups, and one teachers’ group, were conducted in a middle school in southwest Kansas. Individual influences, social influences, and larger contextual influences on early adolescent health were assessed by discussing behaviors, personal characteristics, and environmental factors, based on the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM). Findings – Adolescent participants’ knowledge regarding healthful foods was limited. Taste and appearance were the two leading factors that contributed to food choices. Responses from adolescents, parents, and teachers all indicated difficulties when introducing new and healthful food items into adolescents’ diets. Besides physical education (PE) and school-related sports, the sources for physical activity were limited. Certain video games were specified as facilitators of physical activity by adolescents. Peer pressure was a predominant theme motivating most adolescents’ physical activities as well as food choices. These findings suggest numerous interrelated factors associated with healthy lifestyle in the population of this study. Originality/value – By involving adolescents in the in-depth open-ended discussion through the focus groups helped reveal their unique attitudes, perceptions, and motivations toward practicing healthy lifestyles. Interventions targeting both behavior change and environmental change are needed.
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Jul 1, 2015
Evaluate effectiveness of the Healthy Babies (HB) intervention compared to a control group on mat... more Evaluate effectiveness of the Healthy Babies (HB) intervention compared to a control group on maternal responsiveness, feeding style, and feeding practices, and compare infant feeding self-regulation and growth pattern of infants. Description: The HB Curriculum is a series of 6 in-home lessons and 3 follow-up telephone contacts, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Evaluation: Over time, the intervention showed positive (p < .05) impacts on mothers' beliefs about introduction of cereal, and infant awareness of satiety. Conclusions and Implications: Preventive feeding interventions are necessary during age-appropriate transition to solid foods.
The current study explores community perspectives on alcohol abuse prevention strategies in rural... more The current study explores community perspectives on alcohol abuse prevention strategies in rural Kenya. Data from focus group discussions with members of community organizations and in-depth interviews with a snowball sample of key informants revealed that rural communities view national alcohol abuse prevention interventions as ineffective and messages as unpersuasive in changing this high-risk behavior. The use of ethnic languages, stronger fear appeals, and visual aids were recommended for alcohol prevention messages aimed at communities with low literacy. Community members favored narratives and entertainment-education strategies, which are more engaging, and print media for their educational value. Health activism, although common, was viewed as less effective in motivating individuals to change drinking behavior but more effective in advocacy campaigns to pressure the government to enforce alcohol regulations. This study suggests further empirical research to inform evidence-based prevention campaigns and to understand how to communicate about alcohol-related health risks within communities that embrace alcohol consumption as a cultural norm.
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic is spreading fast in Africa in spite of t... more The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic is spreading fast in Africa in spite of the various efforts and resources put in place to prevent it. In Kenya, reproductive health programs have used the mass media and other communication interventions to inform and educate the public about the disease and to promote behavior change and healthy sexual practices. This effort has led to a discrepancy between awareness and behavioral change among people of reproductive age. In this article I examine the discrepancy in Kenya from a communications perspective addressing social cultural and related factors contributing to the lack of change in behavior and sexual practices. I draw on the theoretical framework of Grunig's model of excellence in communication, the importance of understanding and relationship building between programs and their stakeholders. Data were gathered qualitatively using focus groups and in-depth interviews among men and women in rural Kenya. Key findings indicate that although awareness of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS is high in Kenya, a majority of the population, particularly those in the rural communities, lack understanding of the communicated messages. They also lack the knowledge of other ways of transmitting HIV particularly among those not sexually involved. Cultural beliefs, values, norms, and myths have played a role in the rapidly increasing epidemic in the rural communities and yet HIV/AIDS communication programs have not addressed these factors adequately. I conclude that successful behavior change communication must include strategies that focus on increasing understanding of the communicated messages and understanding of the audience through application of appropriate methodologies. Building a relationship with the audience or stakeholders through dialogues and two-way symmetrical communication contributes toward this understanding and the maintenance of the newly adopted behaviors and practices. This paper was extracted from a Ph.D. thesis, University of Iowa. It was first presented at the Association for Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) in Florida, August 2002.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have made the global village a reality with the... more Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have made the global village a reality with the Internet, cell phones and other digital communication technology disseminating messages instantly through the fast information superhighway. The United Nations (U.N.) Development Program (UNDP, 2001) defines ICTs in terms of innovations in microelectronics, computing (hardware and software), telecommunications and opto-electronics—micro-processors, semiconductors and fibre optics. These technologies enable the processing and storage of enormous amounts and rapid distribution of information through communications networks. As new innovations, ICTs are also described as “the building blocks of the networked world,” (UNDP, 2001, p. 30), with ICTs, particularly the Internet, being used by a variety of organizations as a global networking tool. Access to, knowledge of and effective use of ICTs is crucial, particularly where access to the technology is equated to social, political, economic and human development. Internet usage, for example, is regarded as the standard indicator of the use of ICTs and also the most democratic of all mass media, mainly because of their low investment (Internet World Stats, 2006). This technology has been used effectively as a tool for delivery of various services and applications, including distance learning, agriculture, telehealth, e-commerce and e-governance. Individuals, organizations and institutions now use the Internet to strategically reach a large audience of markets through e-mails and other advertising strategies, since it is fast and economical, irrespective of size or location of business. There are many gender issues, however, related to connectivity and access to available ICTs, some of which are visibly documented and most often examined as the digital divide based on gender. Rakow (1986), in her classic studies on gender and ICTs, however, points out that technology should not be examined based on the differences in the behavior of men or women towards a technology, but instead to look for the ways in which the technology is used to construct us as women and men through the social practices that put it to use. Rakow further argues that more attention needs to be paid to how communication technologies alter, aid, or construct women’s opportunities for interacting with each other and with the wider public domain. This article is based on data gathered through a detailed open-ended questionnaire, with a sample of 121 Jamaican women, ages 21 and older, and explores their access and nature of use of ICTs as well as challenges they face in their attempts to use them effectively. Like other Caribbean islands, Jamaica has embraced ICTs as a tool for national development, adopting the most recent technologies to ensure global connectivity. The study examines how these technologies could be used effectively to address some of the developmental, economical, health and human developmental challenges that face the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These findings are used to complement existing studies, including national surveys and literature on the gender and ICT issues in the Caribbean.
Abstract Through an online survey of community residents living nearby the National Bio and Agro-... more Abstract Through an online survey of community residents living nearby the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), this study examined how high-risk organizations can communicate organizational legitimacy, and how legitimacy perception may affect public trust and risk perceptions. Results illustrated the importance of transparent and consistent communication in organizational legitimacy-building, as well as the role of legitimacy, especially for high-risk organizations, to garner public trust, to ease public uncertainty, and to increase public preparedness.
The Journal of International Communication, Jan 2, 2014
Abstract Chronic alcohol consumption is among the major public health and socioeconomic burdens i... more Abstract Chronic alcohol consumption is among the major public health and socioeconomic burdens in many developing nations. This study focuses on the heavy drinking of unrecorded and unmonitored illicit liquor that has been associated with numerous fatalities in rural Central Kenya in spite of government's efforts to limit its supply and consumption. The communication for social change approach puts emphasis in community engagement, incorporating the unheard voices in defining the problem and designing appropriate interventions. Through focus groups and in-depth interviews to examine rural communities' perspectives on the root cause of the alcoholism problem and their perceive severity of the problem, the study found sociocultural, economic, and environmental factors that need to be addressed for successful alcohol prevention in the region. Although communities are aware of the severity of chronic alcoholism, they may not have proper understanding of the long-term health impact it has on consumers and the overall communities. Such findings are necessary in the design of culture-specific communication interventions that focus on social change beyond individual behavior.
... Muturi, Nancy. ... Muturi, NW and An, S. , 2008-05-21 &quot;HIV/AIDS Stigma, Risk Percept... more ... Muturi, Nancy. ... Muturi, NW and An, S. , 2008-05-21 &quot;HIV/AIDS Stigma, Risk Perception, and Religiosity Among African-American Women&quot; Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, TBA, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Online &lt;PDF&gt;. ...
Journal of communication in healthcare, Apr 2, 2020
Background: This study examined factors associated with perceived risks for the harmful use of al... more Background: This study examined factors associated with perceived risks for the harmful use of alcohol among young adults in the context of HIV and AIDS. This is the alcohol use that affects physical and mental health and has social consequences. Informed by the protection motivation theory and the social cognitive theory, the study focused on the motivational and cognitive factors that influence risk perception, which includes knowledge, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancies. Methods: Data were gathered through a self-administered survey among young adults (n = 402) who were recruited using the intercept method (Median = 22 years, Mean = 22.5 years). Results: Key findings show a low level of risk perception for the harmful use of alcohol and a high level of alcohol-related self-efficacy. Participants had moderately high knowledge about HIV and AIDS, low HIV-related risk perception but high HIV-related self-efficacy. There was a correlation between alcohol risk perception and perceived risk of HIV and AIDS. Significant determinants of alcohol risk perception included sex-related alcohol expectancies, HIV risk perception, and HIV self-efficacy. Sex-related alcohol expectancies were correlated with risk perception for HIV infection and the harmful use of alcohol. Conclusion: The study provides insights on factors that public health and communication specialists must consider when communicating about the harmful use of alcohol. Enhancing risk perception and self-efficacy for the harmful alcohol use and communicating in the context of HIV and AIDS in high-risk environments is crucial. Furthermore, addressing sexrelated alcohol expectancies may lower the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among alcohol consumers.
This chapter explores access and use of ICTs in the Caribbean, paying special attention to their ... more This chapter explores access and use of ICTs in the Caribbean, paying special attention to their role in the promotion of gender and health issues in the region, and specifically in Jamaica. In Jamaica progress in the use of ICTs is visibly more advanced than in the other countries. The Jamaican government has fully supported this progress financially and technically, implementing policies to support the application and use of ICTs in national development. Jamaica has set the tone for the other Caribbean countries, particularly Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana where ICT policies and IT strategic plans are currently in place. The chapter largely focuses on the internet because of its widespread influence. Adoption of ICTs in the Caribbean The Caribbean is faced with several development challenges among them public health epidemics, environmental degradation, vulnerability of small size, poverty, geopolitical climate, expanding education and social services, debt burden and limited trade competitiveness. More seriously, the nations in the Caribbean are subject to a wide range of natural hazards-hurricanes, landslide, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes. The value of ICTs particularly in addressing these challenges, as well as improving access to information required for decision making, research and production, is now well recognized as governments continue supporting them as powerful change agents throughout the Caribbean region. Marcelle (2003) sees a great potential for ICT applications in social sectors, education, health, and political participation. The adoption of ICTs and their role in development in the Caribbean has been debatable with two different views: as movers of development, dealing directly with various development issues, and as contributors to the existing unequal development at the individual and societal levels. This disparity is partially linked to modernization and the industrial economy where large companies create and own the new technologies primarily for the benefit of shareholders. These companies are not overly impressed with 'development speak' like building 'a people-centred, inclusive and development oriented information society' (Robinson 2003) that is emphasized by the international community, particularly the UNDP. ICTs have been adapted in the Caribbean to a great extent within the government ministries, a trend that was strengthened by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003. The summit facilitated the creation of an environment through which the full power of ICT can be brought to bear on the issue of Development, to the benefit of all. Following the summit, a number of Caribbean g e n d e r, I C Ts a n d h e a l t h 61
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sep 1, 2015
Learning Outcome: The participants will learn the current built environment for nutritious foods ... more Learning Outcome: The participants will learn the current built environment for nutritious foods in rural low-income communities, and also understand the perceptions of nutritious foods from 6th to 8th grade adolescents
A nationally representative online survey was conducted in the United States in July 2020 to exam... more A nationally representative online survey was conducted in the United States in July 2020 to examine the role of social media use in knowledge about COVID-19, compliance with public health guidelines, and protective behaviors. Building on the Protection Motivation Theory, the analysis revealed that threat severity perceptions and self-efficacy, but not vulnerability perceptions, mediated the negative impact of social media use during the pandemic. Implications for theory, risk communication via social media, and the public are discussed.
Global transformations in media and communication research, 2016
Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are viewed as important tools in preventing global ... more Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are viewed as important tools in preventing global epidemics through facilitation of rapid collection and dissemination of information, interaction and communication between user groups and inter-agency collaborations. In the African context, use of ICTs for health purposes has become particularly critical due to disease burden and the significant erosion of healthcare infrastructure amidst limited human and financial resources, which makes most of the population vulnerable to health threats. When practiced appropriately and with the necessary guiding policies and resources in place, ICTs have great potential to improve health service efficiency, expand or scale up treatment delivery to thousands of patients in developing countries, and improve patient outcomes. The goal of this chapter is to explore the use of ICTs in HIV/AIDS Communication in Kenya, one of the most impacted countries in the African region.
International Journal of Communication, Jan 17, 2008
HIV/AIDS continues to advance relentlessly in the developing countries with the Caribbean ranking... more HIV/AIDS continues to advance relentlessly in the developing countries with the Caribbean ranking second to sub-Saharan Africa in rates of infection. Using the social influence theory that recognizes the role of opinion leaders in social and behavioral change, this study examines the contributions of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Jamaica. Through data gathered qualitatively from FBO members and persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), this article demonstrates that religion plays a crucial role in the Jamaican culture and that religious leaders have the potential to address the widespread HIV/AIDS epidemic in their communities. Many of them have established programs that provide social, psychological, and physical support and have collaborated with health organizations to initiate health educational programs that seek to impact understanding to motivate behavioral change. This FBO integrative approach complements mass media public awareness HIV/AIDS campaigns but is hampered by HIV/AIDS-related stigma, socio-cultural and religious beliefs, the lack of HIV/AIDS policies, and the inadequate capacity among religious leaders to address the epidemic. This article recommends further research on strategies to incorporate spirituality into health communication interventions, as well as on the overall impact of the FBO approach to HIV/AIDS prevention in the Caribbean region. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is spreading fast in the world, thus becoming a catastrophic health and development concern. It continues to advance relentlessly, emerging as one of the greatest public health challenges in contemporary times (Bertrand, 2004). The Caribbean has been hard hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with a current estimate of 230,000 [210,000-270,000] people living with HIV (UNAIDS, 2007) and an overall HIV prevalence of 2.11% of the population (Camara, 2005). AIDS is now the leading cause of death among the 18-45 year age group, but the severity of the epidemic in the Caribbean region is often
Women in sub-Saharan Africa account for more than half (58%) of people living with the HIV and it... more Women in sub-Saharan Africa account for more than half (58%) of people living with the HIV and it is the only continent where HIV prevalence is higher for women than for men. Studies have attributed alcoholism with the high rates of HIV infection due to its impact on sexual behaviour and arousal. African countries with high rates of alcoholism also reportedly have higher rates of HIV infection. This study explores rural communities&#39; perspectives on the risk factors for HIV infection among women who are in alcohol discordant relationships where the man drinks alcohol excessively. Data were gathered through focus group discussions in rural central Kenya where alcoholism has reached epidemic levels. Key findings indicate the perceived severity of alcoholism, the perceived impact of alcoholism on men&#39;s reproductive health and the unmet sexual and reproductive needs of women in alcohol discordant relationships. Women engage in risky sexual behaviours in an attempt to meet these needs. Such risky behaviour in addition to alcohol-related sexual violence and low response-efficacy for safer sexual practices make them vulnerable to HIV infection and enhances the spread of HIV within communities. The study concludes that in preventing HIV infection among women in alcohol communities affected by alcohol, it is important to focus on their response efficacy. Intervention programmes that focus on HIV prevention among older married women and that integrate alcohol and HIV prevention are long overdue.
Introduction: Youth empowerment programs have increasingly gained attention in public health as e... more Introduction: Youth empowerment programs have increasingly gained attention in public health as emphasis shifts on children and adolescents as decision makers in their health and well-being. Adolescence obesity is among the public health concerns that require more active engagement at individual and community level while empowering adolescents to take charge of their own health. This study examines the influence of youth empowerment on nutritional and physical activity factors associated with adolescence obesity. Methods: Data were gathered through a self-administered survey among adolescents (N = 410) ages 11-15 years in three U.S. States-Kansas, Ohio and South Dakota. Results: Findings show that youth empowerment significantly influences adolescents' self-efficacy, perceptions for healthy food choice, healthy eating, attitudes towards physical activity and the overall motivation for health. Gender differences exist in adolescents' self-efficacy for physical activity whereas ethnicity played a role in perceived youth empowerment and perceived barriers to healthy eating. Age was also a significant contributor in efficacy for healthy food choice and perception of healthy food availability. Conclusions: This study suggests more focus on youth empowerment in interventions that seek to reduce obesity and improve adolescents' overall health by creating environments where they can play a more active decision-making role. With empowerment, adolescents are more likely to be motivated to adopt healthier dietary habits and engage more in physical activity. Further research would establish the impact of youth empowerment on obesity reduction and other public health problems that impact children across ages.
This study examines the interpersonal communication approach to HIV/AIDS prevention within Faith-... more This study examines the interpersonal communication approach to HIV/AIDS prevention within Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in Jamaica. Applying concepts from the social influence and social learning theories, the study examines communication strategies, challenges and concerns that religious leaders face in their communication efforts. Data gathered qualitatively through focus groups and in-depth interviews indicate that FBOs are social and cultural entities with potential to influence knowledge, attitude and behaviour for HIV/AIDS prevention. However, issues related to content, context, culture, the prevailing AIDS-related stigma alongside religious leaders' personal characteristics hamper their communication initiatives. Capacity building of leaders as HIV/AIDS communicators and behaviour change facilitators and a collaborative effort between FBOs and health organizations would enhance their HIV/AIDS response. Health communication encompasses mass and interpersonal communication in promoting and sustaining desired health behaviour change (Bertrand 2004; Rogers 1994). In the past three decades, the field has experienced a shift of focus away from issues of treatment and towards an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention through changing individual behaviours (Morton and Duck 2001). However, HIV/AIDS has emerged as one of the greatest public health challenges that has proved difficult to stop in spite of the public health community having dramatic success in other areas of disease prevention (Bertrand 2004).
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to enable community members to discuss their perceptions o... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to enable community members to discuss their perceptions of eating habits and physical activity in relation to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, and reveal facilitators and barriers to healthy eating behavior and physical activity engagement. Design/methodology/approach – Nine focus groups, which included six groups from sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, two parents’ groups, and one teachers’ group, were conducted in a middle school in southwest Kansas. Individual influences, social influences, and larger contextual influences on early adolescent health were assessed by discussing behaviors, personal characteristics, and environmental factors, based on the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM). Findings – Adolescent participants’ knowledge regarding healthful foods was limited. Taste and appearance were the two leading factors that contributed to food choices. Responses from adolescents, parents, and teachers all indicated difficulties when introducing new and healthful food items into adolescents’ diets. Besides physical education (PE) and school-related sports, the sources for physical activity were limited. Certain video games were specified as facilitators of physical activity by adolescents. Peer pressure was a predominant theme motivating most adolescents’ physical activities as well as food choices. These findings suggest numerous interrelated factors associated with healthy lifestyle in the population of this study. Originality/value – By involving adolescents in the in-depth open-ended discussion through the focus groups helped reveal their unique attitudes, perceptions, and motivations toward practicing healthy lifestyles. Interventions targeting both behavior change and environmental change are needed.
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Jul 1, 2015
Evaluate effectiveness of the Healthy Babies (HB) intervention compared to a control group on mat... more Evaluate effectiveness of the Healthy Babies (HB) intervention compared to a control group on maternal responsiveness, feeding style, and feeding practices, and compare infant feeding self-regulation and growth pattern of infants. Description: The HB Curriculum is a series of 6 in-home lessons and 3 follow-up telephone contacts, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Evaluation: Over time, the intervention showed positive (p < .05) impacts on mothers' beliefs about introduction of cereal, and infant awareness of satiety. Conclusions and Implications: Preventive feeding interventions are necessary during age-appropriate transition to solid foods.
The current study explores community perspectives on alcohol abuse prevention strategies in rural... more The current study explores community perspectives on alcohol abuse prevention strategies in rural Kenya. Data from focus group discussions with members of community organizations and in-depth interviews with a snowball sample of key informants revealed that rural communities view national alcohol abuse prevention interventions as ineffective and messages as unpersuasive in changing this high-risk behavior. The use of ethnic languages, stronger fear appeals, and visual aids were recommended for alcohol prevention messages aimed at communities with low literacy. Community members favored narratives and entertainment-education strategies, which are more engaging, and print media for their educational value. Health activism, although common, was viewed as less effective in motivating individuals to change drinking behavior but more effective in advocacy campaigns to pressure the government to enforce alcohol regulations. This study suggests further empirical research to inform evidence-based prevention campaigns and to understand how to communicate about alcohol-related health risks within communities that embrace alcohol consumption as a cultural norm.
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic is spreading fast in Africa in spite of t... more The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic is spreading fast in Africa in spite of the various efforts and resources put in place to prevent it. In Kenya, reproductive health programs have used the mass media and other communication interventions to inform and educate the public about the disease and to promote behavior change and healthy sexual practices. This effort has led to a discrepancy between awareness and behavioral change among people of reproductive age. In this article I examine the discrepancy in Kenya from a communications perspective addressing social cultural and related factors contributing to the lack of change in behavior and sexual practices. I draw on the theoretical framework of Grunig's model of excellence in communication, the importance of understanding and relationship building between programs and their stakeholders. Data were gathered qualitatively using focus groups and in-depth interviews among men and women in rural Kenya. Key findings indicate that although awareness of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS is high in Kenya, a majority of the population, particularly those in the rural communities, lack understanding of the communicated messages. They also lack the knowledge of other ways of transmitting HIV particularly among those not sexually involved. Cultural beliefs, values, norms, and myths have played a role in the rapidly increasing epidemic in the rural communities and yet HIV/AIDS communication programs have not addressed these factors adequately. I conclude that successful behavior change communication must include strategies that focus on increasing understanding of the communicated messages and understanding of the audience through application of appropriate methodologies. Building a relationship with the audience or stakeholders through dialogues and two-way symmetrical communication contributes toward this understanding and the maintenance of the newly adopted behaviors and practices. This paper was extracted from a Ph.D. thesis, University of Iowa. It was first presented at the Association for Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) in Florida, August 2002.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have made the global village a reality with the... more Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have made the global village a reality with the Internet, cell phones and other digital communication technology disseminating messages instantly through the fast information superhighway. The United Nations (U.N.) Development Program (UNDP, 2001) defines ICTs in terms of innovations in microelectronics, computing (hardware and software), telecommunications and opto-electronics—micro-processors, semiconductors and fibre optics. These technologies enable the processing and storage of enormous amounts and rapid distribution of information through communications networks. As new innovations, ICTs are also described as “the building blocks of the networked world,” (UNDP, 2001, p. 30), with ICTs, particularly the Internet, being used by a variety of organizations as a global networking tool. Access to, knowledge of and effective use of ICTs is crucial, particularly where access to the technology is equated to social, political, economic and human development. Internet usage, for example, is regarded as the standard indicator of the use of ICTs and also the most democratic of all mass media, mainly because of their low investment (Internet World Stats, 2006). This technology has been used effectively as a tool for delivery of various services and applications, including distance learning, agriculture, telehealth, e-commerce and e-governance. Individuals, organizations and institutions now use the Internet to strategically reach a large audience of markets through e-mails and other advertising strategies, since it is fast and economical, irrespective of size or location of business. There are many gender issues, however, related to connectivity and access to available ICTs, some of which are visibly documented and most often examined as the digital divide based on gender. Rakow (1986), in her classic studies on gender and ICTs, however, points out that technology should not be examined based on the differences in the behavior of men or women towards a technology, but instead to look for the ways in which the technology is used to construct us as women and men through the social practices that put it to use. Rakow further argues that more attention needs to be paid to how communication technologies alter, aid, or construct women’s opportunities for interacting with each other and with the wider public domain. This article is based on data gathered through a detailed open-ended questionnaire, with a sample of 121 Jamaican women, ages 21 and older, and explores their access and nature of use of ICTs as well as challenges they face in their attempts to use them effectively. Like other Caribbean islands, Jamaica has embraced ICTs as a tool for national development, adopting the most recent technologies to ensure global connectivity. The study examines how these technologies could be used effectively to address some of the developmental, economical, health and human developmental challenges that face the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These findings are used to complement existing studies, including national surveys and literature on the gender and ICT issues in the Caribbean.
Abstract Through an online survey of community residents living nearby the National Bio and Agro-... more Abstract Through an online survey of community residents living nearby the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), this study examined how high-risk organizations can communicate organizational legitimacy, and how legitimacy perception may affect public trust and risk perceptions. Results illustrated the importance of transparent and consistent communication in organizational legitimacy-building, as well as the role of legitimacy, especially for high-risk organizations, to garner public trust, to ease public uncertainty, and to increase public preparedness.
The Journal of International Communication, Jan 2, 2014
Abstract Chronic alcohol consumption is among the major public health and socioeconomic burdens i... more Abstract Chronic alcohol consumption is among the major public health and socioeconomic burdens in many developing nations. This study focuses on the heavy drinking of unrecorded and unmonitored illicit liquor that has been associated with numerous fatalities in rural Central Kenya in spite of government's efforts to limit its supply and consumption. The communication for social change approach puts emphasis in community engagement, incorporating the unheard voices in defining the problem and designing appropriate interventions. Through focus groups and in-depth interviews to examine rural communities' perspectives on the root cause of the alcoholism problem and their perceive severity of the problem, the study found sociocultural, economic, and environmental factors that need to be addressed for successful alcohol prevention in the region. Although communities are aware of the severity of chronic alcoholism, they may not have proper understanding of the long-term health impact it has on consumers and the overall communities. Such findings are necessary in the design of culture-specific communication interventions that focus on social change beyond individual behavior.
... Muturi, Nancy. ... Muturi, NW and An, S. , 2008-05-21 &quot;HIV/AIDS Stigma, Risk Percept... more ... Muturi, Nancy. ... Muturi, NW and An, S. , 2008-05-21 &quot;HIV/AIDS Stigma, Risk Perception, and Religiosity Among African-American Women&quot; Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, TBA, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Online &lt;PDF&gt;. ...
Journal of communication in healthcare, Apr 2, 2020
Background: This study examined factors associated with perceived risks for the harmful use of al... more Background: This study examined factors associated with perceived risks for the harmful use of alcohol among young adults in the context of HIV and AIDS. This is the alcohol use that affects physical and mental health and has social consequences. Informed by the protection motivation theory and the social cognitive theory, the study focused on the motivational and cognitive factors that influence risk perception, which includes knowledge, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancies. Methods: Data were gathered through a self-administered survey among young adults (n = 402) who were recruited using the intercept method (Median = 22 years, Mean = 22.5 years). Results: Key findings show a low level of risk perception for the harmful use of alcohol and a high level of alcohol-related self-efficacy. Participants had moderately high knowledge about HIV and AIDS, low HIV-related risk perception but high HIV-related self-efficacy. There was a correlation between alcohol risk perception and perceived risk of HIV and AIDS. Significant determinants of alcohol risk perception included sex-related alcohol expectancies, HIV risk perception, and HIV self-efficacy. Sex-related alcohol expectancies were correlated with risk perception for HIV infection and the harmful use of alcohol. Conclusion: The study provides insights on factors that public health and communication specialists must consider when communicating about the harmful use of alcohol. Enhancing risk perception and self-efficacy for the harmful alcohol use and communicating in the context of HIV and AIDS in high-risk environments is crucial. Furthermore, addressing sexrelated alcohol expectancies may lower the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among alcohol consumers.
This chapter explores access and use of ICTs in the Caribbean, paying special attention to their ... more This chapter explores access and use of ICTs in the Caribbean, paying special attention to their role in the promotion of gender and health issues in the region, and specifically in Jamaica. In Jamaica progress in the use of ICTs is visibly more advanced than in the other countries. The Jamaican government has fully supported this progress financially and technically, implementing policies to support the application and use of ICTs in national development. Jamaica has set the tone for the other Caribbean countries, particularly Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana where ICT policies and IT strategic plans are currently in place. The chapter largely focuses on the internet because of its widespread influence. Adoption of ICTs in the Caribbean The Caribbean is faced with several development challenges among them public health epidemics, environmental degradation, vulnerability of small size, poverty, geopolitical climate, expanding education and social services, debt burden and limited trade competitiveness. More seriously, the nations in the Caribbean are subject to a wide range of natural hazards-hurricanes, landslide, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes. The value of ICTs particularly in addressing these challenges, as well as improving access to information required for decision making, research and production, is now well recognized as governments continue supporting them as powerful change agents throughout the Caribbean region. Marcelle (2003) sees a great potential for ICT applications in social sectors, education, health, and political participation. The adoption of ICTs and their role in development in the Caribbean has been debatable with two different views: as movers of development, dealing directly with various development issues, and as contributors to the existing unequal development at the individual and societal levels. This disparity is partially linked to modernization and the industrial economy where large companies create and own the new technologies primarily for the benefit of shareholders. These companies are not overly impressed with 'development speak' like building 'a people-centred, inclusive and development oriented information society' (Robinson 2003) that is emphasized by the international community, particularly the UNDP. ICTs have been adapted in the Caribbean to a great extent within the government ministries, a trend that was strengthened by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003. The summit facilitated the creation of an environment through which the full power of ICT can be brought to bear on the issue of Development, to the benefit of all. Following the summit, a number of Caribbean g e n d e r, I C Ts a n d h e a l t h 61
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sep 1, 2015
Learning Outcome: The participants will learn the current built environment for nutritious foods ... more Learning Outcome: The participants will learn the current built environment for nutritious foods in rural low-income communities, and also understand the perceptions of nutritious foods from 6th to 8th grade adolescents
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Papers by Nancy Muturi