AN APPRAISAL OF UNICEF COMMUNICATION APPROACHES ON INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING (IYCF) PROGRAMME IN BENUE STATE

AN APPRAISAL OF UNICEF COMMUNICATION APPROACHES ON INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING (IYCF) PROGRAMME IN BENUE STATE

Abstract:

This study was conducted to appraise UNICEF‟s communication approaches for the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) programme in Benue state. Child malnutritionhas been achallenging issue,with the IYCF programme deployingseveral communication approachesto reduce the level of malnutrition in Nigeria. This research was anchored on the Health Belief Model and the Northouse and Northouse Model of health communication, to knowthe extentwhich the communication approaches have been utilized and their effectiveness. Both qualitative and quantitative method were used to elicit information from 77 respondents in Otukpo and Makurdi Local Government Area. The study found that the communication approachmade positive impact on malnutrition level. 74.3% of the respondents across the four communities in the two Local Government Areas agreed that there was a significant change in the nutritional status of their children after they participated in the programme. Findings also showed that economic factors, distance, language of communication, gender apathy, awareness level and timing are significant factors limiting the effectiveness of IYCF programme.The involvement of the participants to give feedback was observed as critical to sustenance of different communication approaches used forthe programme. It is thus recommended that the use of communication approaches that combine indigenous and conventional methods should be sustained for more impactful results for future interventions. Also, there is need to initiate community radio intervention to give room for local participation and ownership.

AN APPRAISAL OF UNICEF COMMUNICATION APPROACHES ON INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING (IYCF) PROGRAMME IN BENUE STATE