Title: Traditional means of communication
Course: Health Education, Advocacy and Community Mobilisation Part 1 - Ethiopia (Full)

Traditional means of communication

Traditional means of communication exploit and develop the local means, materials and methods of communication, such as poems, stories, songs and dances, games, fables and puppet shows.

Some of the benefits of traditional means of communication are that they are realistic and based on the daily lives of ordinary people; they can communicate attitudes, beliefs, values and feelings in powerful ways; they do not require understanding that comes with modern education in the majority of instances; they can communicate problems of community life; they can motivate people to change their behaviour and they can show ways to solve problems. Local traditional events are usually very popular and they can be funny, sad, serious or happy. Also, they are easily understood and they usually cost little or no money. All they require is imagination and practice.

Remember that effective health education is seldom achieved through the use of one method alone. Therefore, a combination or variety of methods should be used to make sure that people really understand your health education messages.

Think of an important health issue in your own community. What methods do you think might be best to deliver health messages about this subject to members of your own community? Read Section 10.1 again and see which methods seem to fit in with your community.

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Your answer will be different depending on factors that affect the message you want to deliver. For example, if skills need to be taught then a demonstration is a good method. If your objective is to improve awareness, lecturing may be a good method. Your methods may also vary depending on your own knowledge of your community. For example, you may know several people who enjoy 'play acting' and this would make drama and role play quite attractive methods. Also if you have someone in your community who is very good at telling stories or fables, or singing, then you may be able to work with them to help you deliver your messages.