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Twende na Wakati

Country

Tanzania

Region

Africa

Programme Summary

Family planning is an innovation that many individuals in Tanzania consider highly sensitive, and something which involves preventative behaviour. This results in family planning motivation which is weak. The introduction of an entertainment-education radio soap opera in Tanzania attempted to change attitudes and behavior in a positive direction while providing health information on other issues such as HIV/AIDS.

Communication Strategies

Serialised radio drama which began in July 1993, and was broadcast twice weekly nationwide save the region of Dodoma, a control area. 57 educational values were identified in the culturally appropriate drama. The soap opera rewarded positive behaviours and punished negative behaviour consistently, but also kept the drama highly entertaining and emotional to keep listenership high. Epilogues summarised each episode to reinforce educational messages.

Development Issues

Family Size, Family Planning Methods, HIV/AIDS.

Key Points

Tanzania has an extremely high growth rate, and family planning is seen as a necessary initiative to prevent global population increases. Television has a very limited range in Tanzania, and therefore radio based communication is seen as the most effective means of reaching people. "Twende na Wakati" is a radio soap opera based on Miguel Sabido's theory-based entertainment-education strategy.

Partners

Population, Family Life Education Programme of the Ministry of Community Development, Women Affairs and Children, Ministry of Health, Population Communication International; UNFPA; Department of Communication and Journalism at University of New Mexico

Contact

Patrice Newman
Communications Manager
patricen@population.org
Roseanne Murphy
Programme Director
Population Communication International
777 United Nations Plaza 7C
New York, NY 10017 USA
Tel: (212) 687-3366
Fax: (212) 661-4188
PCI website

Placed on the Soul Beat Africa site May 11 2007
Last Updated January 03 2008

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