A mass radio campaign saves thousands of children in Africa

LONDON: A mass radio campaign in Burkina Faso has resulted in a significant increase in the number of sick children who have received medical attention and could prove to be one of the most cost-effective means of save young lives in poor countries. Publication of the results of a trial involving a radio campaign in rural areas that encouraged the search for three of the biggest killers of children under five – malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea – saved about 3,000 lives.

This study shows that using the media to drive people to health centers is actually more profitable than almost anything on earth to save children's lives, said Roy Head, who co-directed the study. that makes sense – it reaches millions of people at a time – but it's the first time that it's shown in a scientific essay. "

The radio campaign, according to the researchers, uses a method of" saturation "was broadcast in Burkina Faso between 2012 and 2015.

It was broadcast on seven radio stations in a radius of about 50 kilometers (30 miles), while seven more

Routine data from health facilities were then analyzed to look for changes in treatment seeking, with data coming from more of 1.1 million hits and estimated deliveries.

The findings – published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) World Health Tuesday – showed a significant increase in the adoption of life-saving behaviors for diseases Specifically targeted

pneumonia and diarrhea increased significantly over the three years of the study, including a 107% increase in diagnoses of diarrhea three year and a 56% increase in malaria diagnoses in year 1. The researchers said that there was no change in disease detection rates not covered by the radio campaign, such as cough and the cold.

The team estimated a mortality reduction of 9.7% in 1 year, 5.7 Pneumonia, malaria and diarrhea are the three leading causes of death among children in sub-Saharan Africa. Simon Cousens, professor at the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, who led the work. "This research provides evidence that the media has an important role to play in persuading parents to seek life-saving treatment for children."

(Reportage by Kate Kelland, edited by Richard Balmforth)