Interpersonal Communication and Effective Child Nutrition Promotion in Kilifi County, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to establish the influence of Interpersonal Communication in effective child nutrition promotion. The objectives of this study were: to examine the influence of interpersonal communication functions on effective child nutrition promotion in Kilifi County, Kenya; to examine the influence of interpersonal communication participants on effective child nutrition promotion in Kilifi County, Kenya; to assess the influence of interpersonal communication message structure on effective child nutrition promotion in Kilifi County, Kenya; to examine the influence of interpersonal communication context on effective child nutrition promotion in Kilifi County, Kenya and to establish the moderating effect of communication noise on the relationship between interpersonal communication and effective child nutrition promotion in Kilifi County, Kenya. The target population consisted of residents with children aged five years and below and health professionals attached to twelve public healthcare facilities. This study was guided by the tenets of the health belief model and the social penetration theory. The mixed method research design was used. Data was drawn from a qualitative sample size of 10 health professionals and a quantitative sample of 247 residents with children aged 5 years and below. Qualitative data was collected through the use of interviews and analyzed by using the thematic analysis method. Quantitative data was obtained through the use of questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Quantitative and qualitative data were then linked through the Triangulation Method. The study concluded that face to face interpersonal communication was influential in promoting effective child nutrition. The findings established that child nutrition information was drawn from numerous sources within the community and that varying degrees of influence were attached to each source. However, health professionals stood out to be the most popular source mainly due to their expertise. Secondly, the existence of a good relationship between message source and recipient was vital, as it influenced the acceptance of child nutrition information. Thirdly, findings revealed that the ethos appeal proved to be the most influential persuasion appeal with members of the public preferring to draw child nutrition information from credible sources such as health professionals who were keen to tailor make their message to suit the environmental, financial and literacy level of the reciever. Health professionals on the other hand employed the pathos appeal specifically targeting fear to trigger desired action. Fourthly, child nutrition information was disseminated in variety of contexts ranging from hospitals, “chama” meetings, village meetings and community events. However, hospitals were identified as the most influential venue while female sources of child nutrition information were preferred and ranked as more influential compared to their male counterparts. Lastly, there existed a language barrier between message source and receiver as majority of respondents reported to be most conversant in Giriama yet used Kiswahili as their language of interaction with health professionals. The study therefore recommended that: there should be a deliberate effort by health professionals to build a good relationship with their patients as well as make use of the local language to break down the language barrier. Additionally, communicators should recognize the influence of informal sources of child nutrition information and they should seek to provide content that addresses information gaps/ loopholes created by these informal sources.