The case to scale up edutainment as an effective public health communication intervention to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

Dzinamarira, Tafadzwa; Nachipo, Brian; Nyathi, Albert; Madziva, Roda; Herrera, Helena; Siegel, Hugh; Musuka, Godfrey

Abstract

Efforts to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been negatively affected by myths, misconceptions and misinformation, fuelled by an “infodemic” spread via social media platforms. In response, The Zimbabwean COVID-19 response built on its experience with past public health communication strategies to employ edutainment strategies for COVID-19 awareness campaigns. This article discusses the different strategies and how they were employed. In this perspective piece, the authors discuss edutainment as an effective vehicle for reaching wider sectors of society. In tackling complex social issues with simple language, integrated into various entertainment formats, edutainment can bring about change in contexts where traditional strategies and actions may prove unsuccessful.

Citation

Dzinamarira, T., Nachipo, B., Nyathi, A., Madziva, R., Herrera, H., Siegel, H., & Musuka, G. (2022). The case to scale up edutainment as an effective public health communication intervention to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. Health Promotion Perspectives, 12(1), 34-36. https://doi.org/10.34172/hpp.2022.05

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 29, 2022
• Online Publication Date: May 29, 2022
• Publication Date: May 29, 2022
• Deposit Date: May 6, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 15, 2022
• Journal: Health Promotion Perspectives
• Electronic ISSN: 2228-6497
• Publisher: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 34-36
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.34172/hpp.2022.05
• Keywords: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; Education; Health (social science)
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7956255
• Publisher URL: https://hpp.tbzmed.ac.ir/Article/hpp-36161