A mass radio campaign saves thousands of children in Africa

The results of the edition show that about 3,000 lives were saved and that the treatment of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea is promoted

Children take their meals in a camp for displaced people on the grounds of Saint Sauveur Church in Bangui, Central African Republic, November 25, 2015. (Reuters pic)

LONDON: A mass radio campaign in Burkina Faso has resulted in a significant increase in the number of people living in the country. sick children who have received medical care and could prove to be one of the most cost-effective ways to save The results of a trial involving a radio campaign in rural areas to promote research of three of the biggest killers of children under five – malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea – were published About 3,000 lives were saved.

"What this study shows is that the use of media to drive people to health centers is actually more profitable than almost anything on earth in terms of" That makes sense – It reaches millions of people at a time – but it's the first time that it has been shown in a scientific essay. "

The radio campaign, whose researchers said it used a method of" saturation "of intensive radio transmissions over a long period to promote behavioral change in a population, was organized in Burkina Faso between 2012 and 2015.

aired on seven radio stations within a radius of about 50 kilometers, while seven other radio stations did not broadcast the campaign and served as witnesses for the comparison

Routine data from health facilities were then analyzed: changes in treatment seeking, with data of more than 1.1 million consultations and estimated deliveries.

The results – published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Global Health Tuesday – showed a significant increase in adoption Rates of diagnosis of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea increased significantly during the three years of the study, including a 107% increase in diarrhea diagnoses in the third year and a 56% increase in malaria The researchers stated that there had been no no change in detection rates for diseases not covered by the radio campaign, such as coughs and colds.

Using a mathematical modeling tool, the team estimated a mortality reduction of 9.7% 1, 5.7% the second year and 5.5% the third year, accounting for about 3,000 lives saved through the campaign.

"Pneumonia, malaria and diarrhea are the three leading causes of infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa," said Simon Cousens, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who co-directed 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."