The Effectiveness of Radio Talk Shows by UNICEF Ethiopia in Increasing Knowledge and Changing Attitudes and Behaviors Around Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation, and Gender Equality

Authors

  • Haithar Ahmed UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office
  • Jolanda Van Westering UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office
  • Zemzem Shikur UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office
  • Fikereselam Getinet Terefa UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office
  • Andinet Challa UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office
  • Rachana Sharma UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office
  • Mona Aika UNICEF ESARO
  • Andrew Brooks Child Protection, UNICEF ESARO
  • Massimiliano Sani PG Nairobi
  • Nankali Maksud PG Nairobi
  • Harriet Akullu UNICEF NYHQ
  • Joseph Mabirizi UNICEF NYHQ

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.1011.15797

Keywords:

Female genital mutilation, child marriage, gender equality, radio talk shows, behavior change

Abstract

Female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage (CM), and gender inequality are some practices that are discriminatory and abusive to women and deny them the potential to live better and more inclusive lives. UNICEF in collaboration with other partners have initiated radio talk shows (RTS)in SNNP, Oromia, Somali, and Afar regions with the aim of addressing these issues. This evaluation study assessed the effectiveness of these shows on these matters. The study used a cross-sectional survey approach blended with key informant interviews to interrogate the issue at hand. A stratified cluster sampling method was used to identify 458 subjects to participate in the study. The study found that not many people have been reached by the radio talk shows. Those reached had acquired knowledge/enlightenment and attitude change that is positive towards lowering cases of FGM, CM, and gender inequality. The study thus found radio talk shows to be effective in increasing knowledge and attitude that could bring about social behavior change. It was recommended that UNICEF to scale up RTS into unreached areas to expand the reach hence the impact of the shows on FGM, CM, and gender equality.

Downloads

Published

2023-11-05

How to Cite

Ahmed, H., Westering, J. V., Shikur, Z., Terefa, F. G., Challa, A., Sharma, R., Aika, M., Brooks, A., Sani, M., Maksud, N., Akullu, H., & Mabirizi, J. (2023). The Effectiveness of Radio Talk Shows by UNICEF Ethiopia in Increasing Knowledge and Changing Attitudes and Behaviors Around Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation, and Gender Equality. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 10(11), 61–75. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.1011.15797

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 11 (2023): Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Haithar Ahmed, Jolanda Van Westering, Zemzem Shikur, Fikereselam Getinet Terefa, Andinet Challa, Rachana Sharma, Mona Aika, Andrew Brooks, Massimiliano Sani, Nankali Maksud, Harriet Akullu, Joseph Mabirizi

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors wishing to include figures, tables, or text passages that have already been published elsewhere are required to obtain permission from the copyright owner(s) for both the print and online format and to include evidence that such permission has been granted when submitting their papers. Any material received without such evidence will be assumed to originate from the authors.

Most read articles by the same author(s)