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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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<strong>Challenges</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Era</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Globalization</strong><br />

Edited by Emmanuel Obuah<br />

The respondents also confirmed that <strong>the</strong>y adopt various market<strong>in</strong>g communication mix tools <strong>in</strong> execut<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir behavioral change communication efforts. Market<strong>in</strong>g communication mix tools such as sales<br />

promotion, advertis<strong>in</strong>g, publicity and public relations, and personal sell<strong>in</strong>g are frequently used.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> respondents, sales promotion and advertis<strong>in</strong>g are <strong>the</strong> most frequently used market<strong>in</strong>g<br />

communication mix tools.<br />

Measurement <strong>of</strong> Communications Outcomes<br />

Respondents were asked if <strong>the</strong>ir organizations had developed <strong>in</strong>dicators for measur<strong>in</strong>g communications<br />

effectiveness. Cont<strong>in</strong>uous review <strong>of</strong> activities is extremely important. All <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers <strong>in</strong>terviewed said<br />

that <strong>the</strong>re are some <strong>in</strong>dicators that are used to assess <strong>the</strong> outcome <strong>of</strong> communications activities. They<br />

stated that research is used to assess <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> communications messages. Research was mentioned<br />

as <strong>the</strong> most widely used tool for measur<strong>in</strong>g communication effectiveness. An <strong>of</strong>ficer at <strong>the</strong> Ghana<br />

Susta<strong>in</strong>able Change Project described research as <strong>the</strong> bedrock <strong>of</strong> malaria prevention with respect to ITNs.<br />

Officers at Netmark and <strong>the</strong> Ghana Social Market<strong>in</strong>g Foundation <strong>in</strong>dicated that retail audits, sales data<br />

from partners and household surveys are used to assess campaigns. A communications <strong>of</strong>ficer at <strong>the</strong><br />

National Malaria Control Program made mention <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fact that is difficult to measure <strong>the</strong> outcomes <strong>of</strong><br />

communication campaigns. Respondents at <strong>the</strong> Ghana Susta<strong>in</strong>able Change Project stated that <strong>in</strong>dicators<br />

such as number <strong>of</strong> posters developed, radio spots, television adverts and number <strong>of</strong> road shows were some<br />

<strong>in</strong>dicators used <strong>in</strong> measur<strong>in</strong>g communications effectiveness.<br />

Employ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>se methods as discussed above to measure communication effectiveness might not produce<br />

<strong>the</strong> best <strong>of</strong> results. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Pickton and Broderick (2005), communications campaign needs to be<br />

evaluated <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir efficiency and effectiveness. Though <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>of</strong>ten no s<strong>in</strong>gle, simple and<br />

reliable way <strong>of</strong> measur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> communication, measur<strong>in</strong>g several levels <strong>of</strong> effects <strong>in</strong> order to<br />

build an overall picture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> success <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> communication campaigns would be a suitable approach<br />

(Cooper, 1997). Consequently, <strong>in</strong> measur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> outcome <strong>of</strong> a communication campaign, <strong>the</strong> expected<br />

and actual outcomes <strong>of</strong> each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> communications elements as well as <strong>the</strong> collective impact <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se<br />

elements should be determ<strong>in</strong>ed. Reason(s) for success or failure must also be evaluated. Lessons learnt<br />

from <strong>the</strong> campaign and <strong>the</strong> next course <strong>of</strong> action should also be considered (Pickton and Broderick 2005).<br />

Problems and <strong>Challenges</strong><br />

The last set <strong>of</strong> questions <strong>in</strong> this study sough to identify <strong>the</strong> problems and challenges associated with<br />

behavioral change communications on malaria prevention <strong>in</strong> Ghana. The common problem mentioned by<br />

all <strong>the</strong> respondents is entrenched socio-cultural practices.<br />

O<strong>the</strong>r factors <strong>in</strong>hibit<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> progress <strong>of</strong> ITN campaigns <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> country <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g; <strong>in</strong>adequate<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ancial and human resources, <strong>in</strong>accessible roads, negative publicity from <strong>the</strong> media/wrong <strong>in</strong>formation<br />

to <strong>the</strong> public and negative perceptions people have about <strong>the</strong> spread <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> disease. One <strong>of</strong>ficer expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

fur<strong>the</strong>r on perception said “some people still perceive that stand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sun causes malaria which is not<br />

true”. This confirms <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> a study conducted <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn part <strong>of</strong> Ghana about perceptions on<br />

malaria (B<strong>in</strong>ka, 2005).<br />

When respondents were asked why <strong>the</strong>ir target audiences do not use <strong>the</strong> bed nets as expected, <strong>the</strong><br />

follow<strong>in</strong>g were <strong>in</strong>dicated as some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> reasons; some people compla<strong>in</strong> that <strong>the</strong>y feel warm under <strong>the</strong> bed<br />

nets, o<strong>the</strong>rs said <strong>the</strong>y cannot hang <strong>the</strong> bed nets (most people <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> rural communities do not sleep on<br />

beds) and pregnant women <strong>in</strong> some communities prefer keep<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir nets until <strong>the</strong>ir babies are born.<br />

Conclusions<br />

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