Effects of Entertainment-Education Radio Soap Opera on Family Planning Behavior in Tanzania
Nationally broadcast soap operas can be an effective awareness campaign to influence fertility-related behavior and increase the use of family planning measures.
Education through entertainment can be an effective awareness campaign for influencing fertility-related behavior, as it broadcasts public health information embedded in popular storylines. Previous research has demonstrated that mass communication interventions have a positive impact on family planning. However, much of the evidence is based on non-experimental studies, which inadequately address concerns about data collection, self-selection, and causation. To generate measureable evidence, the authors studied the effects of a national entertainment-education radio program broadcast in Tanzania called "Twende na Wakati," a phrase that means, "let's be modern.” The radio program focused on major themes identified in formative research including misperceptions regarding contraceptive use and HIV/AIDs, economic empowerment, and gender-based violence. The study looks at changes in family planning and HIV-preventative behavior as a result of exposure to the soap opera.
Cite this Article
Rogers, Everett M., et al. "Effects of an Entertainment‐education Radio Soap Opera on Family Planning Behavior in Tanzania." Studies in family planning 30.3 (1999): 193-211.
Rogers, E. M., Vaughan, P. W., Swalehe, R., Rao, N., Svenkerud, P., & Sood, S. (1999). Effects of an Entertainment‐education Radio Soap Opera on Family Planning Behavior in Tanzania. Studies in family planning, 30(3), 193-211.
Rogers, Everett M., Peter W. Vaughan, Ramadhan Swalehe, Nagesh Rao, Peer Svenkerud, and Suruchi Sood. "Effects of an Entertainment‐education Radio Soap Opera on Family Planning Behavior in Tanzania." Studies in family planning 30, no. 3 (1999): 193-211.