COM 405- HEALTH COMMUNICATION

QUESTION ONE

a) Definition of Concepts

Health

Health can be defined as a state where there is absence of any disease or impairment in a
person’s life hence he or she can adequately cope with all demands of daily life. According to
WHO, health can be said to be a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Health communication

Health communication is the study and practice of disseminating messages related to health
in order to make people aware about diseases, encourage them to adapt healthy practices, and
sustain healthy choices in their lives.

Development

Development can be defined as the state of advancement or growth through managing a

society natural and human resources in order to create wealth and improve people’s lives.

Development communication

It can be defined as the use of strategic communication through information dissemination

and education, behaviour change, social marketing, social mobilization, media advocacy or
communication for social change and community participation to the alleviation of social
problems in evolving societies.

Social marketing

Social marketing is the strategy of promoting voluntary behaviour change based on

information, motivation, and self-efficacy, among other psychological processes, and is more
effective at changing people fields

Behaviour change communication

It is a deliberate use of communication to promote positive health outcomes, based on proven

theories and models of attitude change.

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QUESTION TWO

Five health issues or diseases prevalent in our country today.

COVID- 19, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Cancer, Gender Based Violence, TB and FGM

How Mass Media can be used to help alleviate COVID- 19 in Kenya.

Mass media has an imperative role in today’s world in alleviating corona virus disease
through providing unified platform for all public health communications, comprehensive
healthcare education guidelines, and robust social distancing strategies while still maintaining
social connections through the following mass media tools.

Digital media through the use of visual data play a significant role in exchanging information
related to the pandemic. For example, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter,
Whatsapp or Instagram educate people to take public health measures. They promote public
health campaigns against COVID-19 and also demonstrate the distribution, transmission, and
trend of this corona virus

Social marketing through social media or digital media platforms can promote voluntary
behaviour change based on information, motivation, and self-efficacy, among other
psychological processes on the virus.

Through mass media for example, social media or mainstream media, there can be an upward
trend for the promotion of health and hygiene practices through adaption of safe health
practices such as increased hand washing, use of face coverings, and social distancing.

Local media stations such as Royal Media Services, Nation media group, K24, Radio Africa
Group among others play a role in corona virus disease tracking and updates through live
updates dashboard.

Local media can reinforce the virus preventing guidelines daily, and people will be
encouraged to use telehealth to meet their healthcare needs. Also, local media stations both
TV and Radio can air Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on the Corona virus at no cost.

Print media such as newspapers or magazines provide updates on the pandemic, including
Covid-19 preventive and suppression information and measures.

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In addition, mass media can also influence the public’s perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and
social norms towards the pandemic.

References

Bates, B. R,.& Ahmed, R. (2013).Health Communication and mass media. Gower Publisher.
(ebrary via www.spu.ac.ke)

Berry, D. (2006). Health Communication: Theory and practice. Open University Press.
(ebrary via www.spu.ac.ke)

Harvey, K. &Koteyko, N. (2013).Exploring health communication: language in action.

London, UK: Routeldge.

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Hubley, J. (2004). Communicating health: an action guide to health education and health
promotion. Oxford: McMillan Press.