Perceptions of People on the Dissemination of Information on Cholera by the Ministry of Health. Case Study: Kanyama Compound

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of people on the dissemination of information on cholera by the ministry of Health. In the study, specific objectives were; to assess the knowledge levels people of Kanyama have on Cholera. To investigate the methods the Ministry of Health is using to disseminate information on Cholera. To assess the challenges the people of Kanyama face in accessing information on Cholera. The research was a case study of Kanyama Compound. The study sample population was 50 respondents. The simple random sampling was used in the collection of data. Information was collected from respondents by using the structured questionnaires. The data obtained was coded and computed using the Microsoft word excel and analysed using descriptive statistics which transposed it into bar charts, pie charts and tables. The analysed data was then presented quantitatively in forms of tables, bar charts and pie charts. In line with the first objective which was to assess the knowledge levels people of Kanyama have on cholera, the findings of the study revealed that more than 60% of the residents are aware of the causes of cholera and its symptoms and 40% of the residents require more sensitization and education on the causes of cholera and the symptoms of cholera because they were able to disagree with some major causes of cholera such as poor sanitation, eating contaminated food and drinking contaminated water. They also disagreed that severe diarrhea and excessive voting are symptoms of cholera. The respondent‟s knowledge about cholera in Kanyama needs be improved based on the study‟s results; there was a group of people who did not have full information about cholera. The study also reviewed some of the methods the ministry of Health use to disseminate information on cholera which includes, radio, newspapers, TV, mobile phones, posters, internet and brochure. Additionally, it was revealed in the study that the challenges people of Kanyama face in accessing information on cholera are; language barrier, shortage of radios and televisions among the members, lack of the best platform for accessing information on cholera and inconsistence of the massages received on cholera.