Communication practices of NGOs in poverty alleviation programmes in rural communities of Zimbabwe: the case of Deutsche Welthungerhilfe German Agro Action (GAA) in Gowke South Rural District
- Authors: Tasaranago, Collet
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Deutsche Welthungerhilfe , Poverty -- Prevention , Non-governmental organizations , Communication in economic development , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Midlands Province (Zimbabwe)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11366 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006028 , Deutsche Welthungerhilfe , Poverty -- Prevention , Non-governmental organizations , Communication in economic development , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Midlands Province (Zimbabwe)
- Description: The aim of this study was to analyse the communication practices of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in their poverty alleviation programmes, using Deutsche Weltihungerhilfe German Agro Action (GAA) in Gokwe South Rural District, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe as a case study. The study was based on the premise that effective communication is essential for successful poverty alleviation programmes. Communication facilitates the diffusion of innovations and encourages active participation by local people in programmes. It is also clear that despite several attempts to end the social malaise, poverty still persists. While several factors such as corruption, misappropriation of funds and misdirection of programs are not innocuous considering the failures of poverty alleviation programmes, communication is an indispensible tool to their success. It therefore becomes imperative that the communication practices be evaluated to identify the missing links. It is evident that by so doing, going forward, NGOs can effectively communicate with the local people and advances towards poverty alleviation can be realised. To this end, third world countries amongst them Zimbabwe and particularly rural communities, Gokwe included continue to suffer from poverty despite a number of programmes to address the pandemic by NGOs. The study was guided by the tenets of the Diffusion of innovations and Participatory development communication theories. These theories were considered the most applicable in terms of the research subject. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods and it was carried out in four of the wards in the district. The research methods were applied to solicit information from the rural people on how communication took place between the organisation and the community. The study found out that GAA used mainly the Indigenous Communication Systems (ICSs) in form of meetings and interpersonal face-toface communication modes. Names of projects were also fairly used for communication. The Modern Communication Systems (MCSs) used were cell phones and letters. GAA used local Page v languages mainly Shona and Ndebele and was flexible with the use of the indigenous languages. English language was also used for communication. The communication modes as well as the languages used were effective. The research also analysed and evaluated the communication practices by GAA. The study found out that the organisation effectively used the communication modes which were available for use but there were limitations in terms of access to other communication modes, especially the modern mediums due to poor infrastructure, state monopolisation of the mass media industry using regulations and fear of political persecution. The modern communication modes which GAA did not have access to could facilitate the diffusion of innovations and provide adequate information for active participation by the rural people in poverty alleviation programmes. The study also found out that only one person had heard about GAA through radio and no-one heard about GAA through the television, magazine or newspaper. The orgnanisation did not use these forms of mass media. In addition, the integration of ICSs and MCSs would provide an effective feedback system in Gokwe South Rural District. The researcher suggested the Tilled Communication Field approach whereby every stakeholder is required to make sure that the ICSs and MCSs are available for use by anyone at anytime for development purposes. There is need to give everyone adequate opportunity to use all the communication systems and users are advised to use communication for positive purposes, poverty alleviation included.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tasaranago, Collet
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Deutsche Welthungerhilfe , Poverty -- Prevention , Non-governmental organizations , Communication in economic development , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Midlands Province (Zimbabwe)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11366 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006028 , Deutsche Welthungerhilfe , Poverty -- Prevention , Non-governmental organizations , Communication in economic development , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Midlands Province (Zimbabwe)
- Description: The aim of this study was to analyse the communication practices of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in their poverty alleviation programmes, using Deutsche Weltihungerhilfe German Agro Action (GAA) in Gokwe South Rural District, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe as a case study. The study was based on the premise that effective communication is essential for successful poverty alleviation programmes. Communication facilitates the diffusion of innovations and encourages active participation by local people in programmes. It is also clear that despite several attempts to end the social malaise, poverty still persists. While several factors such as corruption, misappropriation of funds and misdirection of programs are not innocuous considering the failures of poverty alleviation programmes, communication is an indispensible tool to their success. It therefore becomes imperative that the communication practices be evaluated to identify the missing links. It is evident that by so doing, going forward, NGOs can effectively communicate with the local people and advances towards poverty alleviation can be realised. To this end, third world countries amongst them Zimbabwe and particularly rural communities, Gokwe included continue to suffer from poverty despite a number of programmes to address the pandemic by NGOs. The study was guided by the tenets of the Diffusion of innovations and Participatory development communication theories. These theories were considered the most applicable in terms of the research subject. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods and it was carried out in four of the wards in the district. The research methods were applied to solicit information from the rural people on how communication took place between the organisation and the community. The study found out that GAA used mainly the Indigenous Communication Systems (ICSs) in form of meetings and interpersonal face-toface communication modes. Names of projects were also fairly used for communication. The Modern Communication Systems (MCSs) used were cell phones and letters. GAA used local Page v languages mainly Shona and Ndebele and was flexible with the use of the indigenous languages. English language was also used for communication. The communication modes as well as the languages used were effective. The research also analysed and evaluated the communication practices by GAA. The study found out that the organisation effectively used the communication modes which were available for use but there were limitations in terms of access to other communication modes, especially the modern mediums due to poor infrastructure, state monopolisation of the mass media industry using regulations and fear of political persecution. The modern communication modes which GAA did not have access to could facilitate the diffusion of innovations and provide adequate information for active participation by the rural people in poverty alleviation programmes. The study also found out that only one person had heard about GAA through radio and no-one heard about GAA through the television, magazine or newspaper. The orgnanisation did not use these forms of mass media. In addition, the integration of ICSs and MCSs would provide an effective feedback system in Gokwe South Rural District. The researcher suggested the Tilled Communication Field approach whereby every stakeholder is required to make sure that the ICSs and MCSs are available for use by anyone at anytime for development purposes. There is need to give everyone adequate opportunity to use all the communication systems and users are advised to use communication for positive purposes, poverty alleviation included.
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Investigation into HIV/AIDS coverage in selected South African newspapers
- Authors: Moqasa, Nketsi Abel
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) in mass media , Mass media -- South Africa , Journalism -- Social aspects , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa , Content analysis (Communication) , Press -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11367 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006285 , AIDS (Disease) in mass media , Mass media -- South Africa , Journalism -- Social aspects , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa , Content analysis (Communication) , Press -- South Africa
- Description: This study investigates HIV/AIDS coverage in selected South African newspapers. The rationale for the study hinges on the fact that the media’s role in informing society about social issues, such as HIV/AIDS, is of paramount importance. The study adopted, principally, the content analysis method and, as a supplement, discourse analysis. Four daily newspapers were content-analysed, namely: Daily Dispatch, Daily Sun, Sowetan and The Star. A total of 288 editions of newspapers, spanning a period of twelve months (January to December 2010) were sampled. This study is informed by agenda setting theory. Discourse analysis was used to determine the compliance of these newspapers to media guides on the use of appropriate language or terminologies. The tone, sentence structures used when disseminating HIV/AIDS stories were also examined. The results revealed that HIV/AIDS coverage by these newspapers is reasonable even though the prominence given to HIV/AIDS issues is dissatisfactory in terms of placement on the page, headline font-size and number of paragraphs devoted to HIV/AIDS stories. 5.0% of HIV/AIDS-oriented stories were placed on the front page; 93.8% on the inside pages while 1.3% were placed on the back pages. It was also found that news and feature were used equally to disseminate HIV/AIDS issues. These genres constituted 50% each. On the other hand, the results revealed a statistically non-significant relationship between the newspapers and categories; that is: (25.09 2 , p 0.122 0.05 ). Results further revealed that these newspapers used appropriate terminology and value-neutral language in their stories. The tone of the messages was found to be positive and encouraging.
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- Authors: Moqasa, Nketsi Abel
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) in mass media , Mass media -- South Africa , Journalism -- Social aspects , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa , Content analysis (Communication) , Press -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11367 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006285 , AIDS (Disease) in mass media , Mass media -- South Africa , Journalism -- Social aspects , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa , Content analysis (Communication) , Press -- South Africa
- Description: This study investigates HIV/AIDS coverage in selected South African newspapers. The rationale for the study hinges on the fact that the media’s role in informing society about social issues, such as HIV/AIDS, is of paramount importance. The study adopted, principally, the content analysis method and, as a supplement, discourse analysis. Four daily newspapers were content-analysed, namely: Daily Dispatch, Daily Sun, Sowetan and The Star. A total of 288 editions of newspapers, spanning a period of twelve months (January to December 2010) were sampled. This study is informed by agenda setting theory. Discourse analysis was used to determine the compliance of these newspapers to media guides on the use of appropriate language or terminologies. The tone, sentence structures used when disseminating HIV/AIDS stories were also examined. The results revealed that HIV/AIDS coverage by these newspapers is reasonable even though the prominence given to HIV/AIDS issues is dissatisfactory in terms of placement on the page, headline font-size and number of paragraphs devoted to HIV/AIDS stories. 5.0% of HIV/AIDS-oriented stories were placed on the front page; 93.8% on the inside pages while 1.3% were placed on the back pages. It was also found that news and feature were used equally to disseminate HIV/AIDS issues. These genres constituted 50% each. On the other hand, the results revealed a statistically non-significant relationship between the newspapers and categories; that is: (25.09 2 , p 0.122 0.05 ). Results further revealed that these newspapers used appropriate terminology and value-neutral language in their stories. The tone of the messages was found to be positive and encouraging.
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Hiv/Aids communication and youth behaviour in South Africa: a study of female high school students in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Mpofu, Nkosinothando
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Communication in public health -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11368 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015374 , HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Communication in public health -- South Africa
- Description: Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome communication remains one of the most significant tools in the fight against HIV/AIDS given the absence of the cure to fight the growth and spread of the global pandemic. Through the use of information, HIV/AIDS communication seeks to empower recipients or societies with skills that will help reduce their risk of infection. South Africa has seen a high visibility of HIV/AIDS communication programmes or campaigns aimed at empowering different audiences, whilst paying particular emphasis on the most vulnerable. Young people, in particular young women, have a higher prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. This has prompted the development of many youth focused communication campaigns which have sought to address factors that increase young people`s vulnerability to HIV infection. However, despite the high visibility of HIV/AIDS communication campaigns targeting young people, high risk behaviours are still being seen among young women. Important to note are the high teenage pregnancy rates, growing abuse of substances and even the premature engagement of sexual activities among female youths. This, therefore, raises questions on the effect of HIV/AIDS communication programmes in encouraging protective behaviour against risky behavioural practices amongst young women. Using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to this study, an investigation was conducted into whether current HIV/AIDS communication campaigns have been limited (in terms of effectiveness) when it comes to communicating with young women on issues relating to HIV/AIDS. Awareness of HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS communication programmes, relevance of HIV/AIDS communication programmes, the factors that influence the use and understanding of HIV/AIDS messages and the impact of HIV/AIDS communication on attitude and behaviour change amongst female youths is measured. A total of 350 questionnaire copies were self-administered to 350 participants, with a 100 percent response rate. From the 350 participants, seventy five took part in focus group discussions. Data obtained was analysed using SPSS (for descriptive statistics), and the grounded theory. The results of the study indicate that all participants were aware of HIV/AIDS with at least 60% of the participants aware of at least three HIV/AIDS communication campaigns. When measuring the relevance of HIV/AIDS communication campaigns, participants (58%) indicate that issues discussed in most HIV/AIDS communication campaigns increased the relevance of HIV/AIDS messages to young women although such relevance was, for some respondents, affected by limited access to communication campaigns. Results also show that levels of knowledge and understanding of factors that expose young women to HIV infections differed amongst participants in as much as the factors that hinder the use of advice contained in HIV/AIDS messages also differed. Sixty-nine percent of the participants have knowledge and a better understanding of factors that expose young females to HIV infections. Twenty-five percent of the participants identified peer pressure, whilst 23% identified limited access to HIV/AIDS communication campaigns and another 18% identified a disregard of HIV/AIDS messages as significant factors that limit the ability of individuals to implement advice contained in HIV/AIDS messages. The results also indicate that although HIV/AIDS communication campaigns seem to have played a role in empowering some participants, there is still a significant minority whom communication has not effectively communicated with. Based on these findings, the study suggests, amongst other things, the need to intensify current HIV/AIDS communication campaigns through the provision of consistent messages on appropriate condom use, the identification of easily accessible communication channels and the development of thought provoking and attention grabbing campaigns as well as the need to continue to directly involve young women in the processes of their own development.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mpofu, Nkosinothando
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Communication in public health -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11368 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015374 , HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Communication in public health -- South Africa
- Description: Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome communication remains one of the most significant tools in the fight against HIV/AIDS given the absence of the cure to fight the growth and spread of the global pandemic. Through the use of information, HIV/AIDS communication seeks to empower recipients or societies with skills that will help reduce their risk of infection. South Africa has seen a high visibility of HIV/AIDS communication programmes or campaigns aimed at empowering different audiences, whilst paying particular emphasis on the most vulnerable. Young people, in particular young women, have a higher prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. This has prompted the development of many youth focused communication campaigns which have sought to address factors that increase young people`s vulnerability to HIV infection. However, despite the high visibility of HIV/AIDS communication campaigns targeting young people, high risk behaviours are still being seen among young women. Important to note are the high teenage pregnancy rates, growing abuse of substances and even the premature engagement of sexual activities among female youths. This, therefore, raises questions on the effect of HIV/AIDS communication programmes in encouraging protective behaviour against risky behavioural practices amongst young women. Using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to this study, an investigation was conducted into whether current HIV/AIDS communication campaigns have been limited (in terms of effectiveness) when it comes to communicating with young women on issues relating to HIV/AIDS. Awareness of HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS communication programmes, relevance of HIV/AIDS communication programmes, the factors that influence the use and understanding of HIV/AIDS messages and the impact of HIV/AIDS communication on attitude and behaviour change amongst female youths is measured. A total of 350 questionnaire copies were self-administered to 350 participants, with a 100 percent response rate. From the 350 participants, seventy five took part in focus group discussions. Data obtained was analysed using SPSS (for descriptive statistics), and the grounded theory. The results of the study indicate that all participants were aware of HIV/AIDS with at least 60% of the participants aware of at least three HIV/AIDS communication campaigns. When measuring the relevance of HIV/AIDS communication campaigns, participants (58%) indicate that issues discussed in most HIV/AIDS communication campaigns increased the relevance of HIV/AIDS messages to young women although such relevance was, for some respondents, affected by limited access to communication campaigns. Results also show that levels of knowledge and understanding of factors that expose young women to HIV infections differed amongst participants in as much as the factors that hinder the use of advice contained in HIV/AIDS messages also differed. Sixty-nine percent of the participants have knowledge and a better understanding of factors that expose young females to HIV infections. Twenty-five percent of the participants identified peer pressure, whilst 23% identified limited access to HIV/AIDS communication campaigns and another 18% identified a disregard of HIV/AIDS messages as significant factors that limit the ability of individuals to implement advice contained in HIV/AIDS messages. The results also indicate that although HIV/AIDS communication campaigns seem to have played a role in empowering some participants, there is still a significant minority whom communication has not effectively communicated with. Based on these findings, the study suggests, amongst other things, the need to intensify current HIV/AIDS communication campaigns through the provision of consistent messages on appropriate condom use, the identification of easily accessible communication channels and the development of thought provoking and attention grabbing campaigns as well as the need to continue to directly involve young women in the processes of their own development.
- Full Text:
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