INFLUENCE OF RADIO NIGERIA “HEALTH WATCH” PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE MATERNAL AND CHILD CARE PRACTICES AMONG RURAL YOUNG MOTHERS’ IN OHAJI/EGBEMA, IMO STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACT: This study centers on the influence of Radio Nigeria “Health Watch” program in sustainablematernal and child care practices. This is because of the persistent increase in maternal death and infantmortality especially in rural areas. Despite the provision of radio awareness campaigns on maternal and childcare practices. The objectives of the study, among others, were to: find out young mothers’ in Ohaji/Egbemalevel of awareness of sustainable maternal and child care practices through exposure to Radio Nigeria “HealthWatch” program and also examine the influence of Radio Nigeria “Health Watch” program on young mothers’engagement on maternal and childcare practices. The study was anchored on Health Belief model. The studyadopted a survey research approach. Wimmer and Dominick’s calculator was used to determining the samplesize of 383 from the population of 117,288. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for the study.Findings revealed that there was low level of awareness on sustainable maternal and child care practicesthrough Radio Nigeria “Health Watch” program among young mothers in Ohaji/Egbema at 51.2%. Also, it wasrevealed that Radio Nigeria “Health Watch” program do not influence young mothers’ engagement towardsmaternal and child care practices at 44.7%. In essence, finding indicated that poor network signal, high level ofnon-educated women, poverty and lack of specific program on maternal child care practices were factorshampering the effectiveness of Radio Nigeria “Health Watch” program in influencing young mothers attitudetowards embracing maternal and child care practices at 90.8%. Therefore, it was recommended that healthcare providers should adopt incorporate community engagement, town-hall meetings, opinion leaders,traditional communication systems that are peculiar to the people in order to provide them with adequateinformation that will influence their engagement in sustainable maternal and child care practices.

Keywords: Child Care, Influence, Health Watch, Maternal Care, Practices, Radio Nigeria, Sustainable