Preferred breast cancer message sources and frames amongst western Kenyan women

Type Journal Article - Journal of Development and Communication Studies
Title Preferred breast cancer message sources and frames amongst western Kenyan women
Author(s)
Volume 4
Issue 2
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2016
Page numbers 454-468
URL https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jdcs/article/viewFile/138168/127737
Abstract
This descriptive study set out to verify the Kenyan women’s knowledge of the various risk factors associated with breast
cancer, their preferred framing of the breast cancer messages and their preferred channels for receiving those messages.
Three hundred and ninety-three (393) women aged 20-64 years from the Kisumu County of Western Kenya were
interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that (a)
information deficiencies in relation to breast cancer is a factor that needs to be addressed, (b) gain, loss and mixed
frames are used and (c) the most preferred sources of information were radio and health facility personnel and, to a low
extent the internet and television. The study recommends that it is prudent for the women to voluntarily seek the right
information for them to make informed decisions regarding preventive breast cancer measures. Further, cancer risk
communicators need to develop frames that revolve around symptoms and risk factors, and use the most preferred
channels side by side to reinforce strengths associated with each. Internet and television among the rural women are of
low use, calling for the collaborated efforts amongst development partners including the women to boost the level of their
usage.

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