Save 3,000 Children in Africa in a Simple but Effective Way

A public radio campaign in Burkina Faso has led to a dramatic increase in the incidence of sick children in medical care, researchers said Tuesday, and could even become one of the most effective ways to save lives in poor countries.

The researchers said in publishing the results of the campaign that they saved the lives of nearly 3,000 children. The experiment included a radio campaign in rural areas that encouraged the treatment of three of the most deadly childhood diseases – malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea.

Roy Hed, who co-sponsored the experiment, said, "This study reveals that using the media to direct people to health centers is actually more effective than any other means of saving the lives of children. "

"It makes sense, the idea reaches millions of people at the same time, but it's the first time that has been demonstrated by a scientific experiment," said Dr. Head .

The radio campaign took place in Burkina Faso from 2012 to 2015. The researchers said they relied on intensive radio programs over a long period to encourage people to change their behavior.

The campaign was broadcast through seven radio stations about fifty kilometers away, while seven other radio stations were missing in comparison. Health facility data was then badyzed for a change in treatment demand, and more than 1.1 million medical consultations and prescriptions were evaluated.

Data published Tuesday in the British Medical Journal Global Health showed a marked increase in behaviors that would save lives.

The rates of diagnosis of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea increased significantly in each of the three years in which the study was conducted.

The team estimated a decrease in infant mortality of 9.7% in the first year, 5.7% in the second year and 5.5% in the third year, which means saving about 3,000 lives as a result of the campaign. "Pneumonia, malaria and diarrhea are three of the most deadly diseases of children in sub-Saharan Africa," said Simon Kazins, a professor at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in London, who co-sponsored the 39; study. Persuade parents to seek treatment that would save the lives of children. "