C R Underwood1, S S Kamhawi2. 1. Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. 2. Center for Communication Programs, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To assess the effects of a communication intervention designed to enhance Jordanian religious leaders' (RLs) communication about family health. METHODS: Programmatic effects on RLs were evaluated with a panel study design; 245 male and 145 female RLs participated in both baseline and end-line surveys in 2011. To assess effects on mosque attendees, a nonequivalent, post-intervention only with control group design was utilized; 431 intervention and 426 control respondents were interviewed in 2012. RESULTS: Although RLs in the intervention site reported higher levels of preaching and teaching about the family health topics at end line than at baseline, their congregants were no more likely than control congregants to report having heard such messages over the previous 6-month period, contrary to the anticipated outcome. Yet, intervention congregants compared with controls were more likely to take action related to the topics to which they were exposed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the mixed findings, intervention mosque goers who recalled messages were more likely to report taking relevant actions. These findings suggest that trained RLs compared with their counterparts were more effective in message dissemination. Thus, the findings support broader implementation of this type of intervention once the programmatic changes recommended in this article are made.
BACKGROUND: To assess the effects of a communication intervention designed to enhance Jordanian religious leaders' (RLs) communication about family health. METHODS: Programmatic effects on RLs were evaluated with a panel study design; 245 male and 145 female RLs participated in both baseline and end-line surveys in 2011. To assess effects on mosque attendees, a nonequivalent, post-intervention only with control group design was utilized; 431 intervention and 426 control respondents were interviewed in 2012. RESULTS: Although RLs in the intervention site reported higher levels of preaching and teaching about the family health topics at end line than at baseline, their congregants were no more likely than control congregants to report having heard such messages over the previous 6-month period, contrary to the anticipated outcome. Yet, intervention congregants compared with controls were more likely to take action related to the topics to which they were exposed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the mixed findings, intervention mosque goers who recalled messages were more likely to report taking relevant actions. These findings suggest that trained RLs compared with their counterparts were more effective in message dissemination. Thus, the findings support broader implementation of this type of intervention once the programmatic changes recommended in this article are made.
Authors: Clara Lemani; Nenani Kamtuwanje; Billy Phiri; Ilene S Speizer; Kavita Singh; Olive Mtema; Ndidza Chisanu; Jennifer H Tang Journal: Int J Gynaecol Obstet Date: 2018-02-02 Impact factor: 3.561