Assessing the Effectiveness of Media in Shaping Community Health Advocacy on HIV/AIDS Prevention (PrEP): A Case Study of Chienge District

This study assessed the effectiveness of media in promoting community health advocacy on HIV/AIDS prevention with a focus on the use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Chienge District. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving a structured questionnaire administered to 50 community respondents and semi-structured interviews with healthcare staff at Chienge District Hospital. Quantitative findings indicated that while 64% of respondents had heard of PrEP, knowledge and understanding of its use remained moderate, and only a small proportion had been offered the service.

Radio emerged as the primary source of PrEP information, though many respondents still reported barriers such as limited access to health facilities, stigma, and inconsistent messaging. Qualitative insights revealed that although media campaigns have contributed to awareness, they are not sufficiently linked with consistent healthcare follow-up or community outreach.

The study concludes that media plays an important role in initiating awareness, but its effectiveness in influencing uptake depends on stronger integration with health service delivery and culturally grounded communication strategies. Recommendations include strengthening partnerships between health services and media platforms, increasing local-language radio programming, and expanding community-based outreach to improve PrEP access and acceptance.