Assessment of Communication in Community Engagement for the Roll-Back Malaria Programme in Kogi East Senatorial District, Kogi State

Abstract

This study assessed communication in community engagement for the Roll-Back Malaria Programme in Kogi East Senatorial District, Kogi State. The study examined the communication strategies used to mobilize communities, the extent to which these strategies were associated with reported engagement in malaria-prevention activities, communication-related challenges, and perceived community responsiveness. The study was anchored on the Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory. A mixed-method design combined a descriptive survey of 385 community residents selected from six communities in Dekina, Ofu and Ankpa Local Government Areas with key-informant interviews involving six programme stakeholders. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, while interview data were organized through framework analysis. The findings indicate that town criers/announcements, radio programmes/jingles, and posters/banners/handbills were commonly reported communication channels, whereas house-to-house contact with health workers had comparatively lower reported reach. Reported engagement was higher for individual preventive behaviours, particularly insecticide-treated-net use and early treatment seeking, than for behaviours involving collective action or changes in established treatment practices. Respondents also reported communication barriers related to limited health-worker visits, access to radio, conflicting traditional beliefs, and doubts about some messages. The qualitative evidence similarly identified manpower, infrastructure, cultural beliefs and trust as recurring implementation challenges. Because the quantitative analysis is descriptive, the findings are interpreted as reported patterns and associations rather than causal effects. The study recommends strengthening sustained interpersonal communication, using trusted community structures, improving access to communication channels, and designing culturally responsive feedback mechanisms within the study area