TY  -  JOUR
AU  -  John Maikomo MOSES
AU  -  Fatima D. VAKKAI
AU  -  Samuel ASICUS
AU  -  Tordue Simon TARGEMA
PY  -  2024/01/02
Y2  -  2024/02/13
TI  -  Combating Covid-19 Fake News and Promoting Positive Behavioural Patterns in Sub-Urban Settlements of Taraba State: Stakeholders’ Perspectives  
JF  -  Nasarawa Journal Of Multimedia And Communication Studies
JA  -  NJOMACS
VL  -  5
IS  -  2
SE  -  
DO  -  
UR  -  https://www.njomacs.com/paper/combating-covid-19-fake-news-and-promoting-positive-behavioural-patterns-in-sub-urban-settlements-of-taraba-state-stakeholders-perspectives
SP  -  1–13
AB  -  This study examined the communication strategies that were employed to combat COVID-19 fake news and promote positive behavioural traits towards COVID-19 in rural and sub-urban settlements of Taraba State, Nigeria. This examination was done against the backdrop of the media-disadvantaged status of rural communities in Nigeria where access to modern channels of communication is extremely difficult owing to a multiplicity of factors such as lack of steady power supply, socio-economic status, and literacy levels among other factors. Using in-depth interview as the research method, the study engaged agents of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) - an agency that was saddled with the responsibility of tackling the pandemic in Nigeria, and primary healthcare workers in the state for data on the communication approaches they utilised to sensitize the masses on the pandemic, the effectiveness of the channels used, and the limitations that inhibited the process. Findings revealed that while a combination of modern and traditional communication channels was deployed, the traditional channels proved more effective in engaging with the masses at the grassroots due to their popular appeal at that level, although with serious limitations bothering on reach and logistics. The study recommended a synergy between modern and traditional communication channels to checkmate the limitations of individual channels and properly mainstream them into the process of sensitizing people at the grassroots towards adopting appropriate health behaviours necessary for combating COVID-19 and indeed, other health emergencies.
ER  -