Running Head: SYNOPSIS
Synopsis Report
Name
Course
Date
SYNOPSIS
2
Assessing the use of the FIFA World Cup as a social behavior change communication
vehicle to engage men in Uganda to Improve Malaria Prevention
Introduction/ background/context
Uganda has one of the highest numbers of malaria infections in sub-Saharan Africa.
While all three vector control strategies have been implemented country wide, men have been
identified as major influencers, currently not sufficiently supporting adoption of malaria
preventive practices at household level. Using the football World Cup as an opportunity to
engage this audience group, the Malaria Action Program for Districts (MAPD) project
collaborated with the National Malaria Control Programme to engage with male audiences
around malaria prevention messages during the viewing of the matches. The 2018 FIFA World
Cup is a football tournament that attracted a lot of attention from men across Uganda.
The establishment of this social behavior change communication initiative was based on
the fact that most men would be interested in watching FIFA World Cup matches and this would
provide a platform on which they would not only be enlightened but also adequately informed
about the treatment and prevention of malaria at a personal and also collective level. A multichannel approach was used in the messaging component of the intervention of using the FIFA
world cup as a social behavior change communication vehicle to engage men in Uganda to
improve malaria prevention. The national malaria control program (NMCP) is an initiative
established by the government of Uganda in order to fight malaria across all realms of the
country's population. In 2018, MAPD and NMCP formulated a program for social behavior
change communication among men in order to help in the fight against malaria in the country
(Mokuolu, Ajumobi, Ntadom, Adedoyin, Roberts, Agomo, &Audu, 2018).
SYNOPSIS
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Problem statement
Unengaged men are key barriers to Ugandan households’ uptake of malaria interventions.
Review of Literature
When health professionals are not adequately competent, it is difficult for them to have
the desired implications as far as improvement of health research is concerned. On the other
hand, high levels of competence among health professionals are associated with improved
efficiency as well as successful attainment of outcomes within the context of health research.
These perspectives indicate the fact that the incompetence of some health professionals in
Uganda south as a major problem for health research in the country especially in terms of
documentation and analyzing information pertaining to prevalence of cases as well as distinctive
risk factors that can be addressed through the use of one or more strategies that are anchored on
evidence-based practice. The information and data provided by health professionals in this
country is not always reliable in research because it might be inconsistent and not adequately in
line with the actual situation as far as demographic indicators of specific diseases are concerned.
The ways in which incompetence of some health professionals in Uganda constitutes a
stumbling block in the country's efforts to fight malaria can also be analyzed in terms of the
contribution they make towards different community health initiatives. Community health is one
of the most important issues of priority as far as the best practices for prevention and treatment
of malaria is concerned. Depending on the approach that has been used within the framework of
community health, high levels of success and efficiency in attainment of goals and outcomes can
be achieved or compromised. Despite the fact that there are many components affecting the
manner in which community health initiatives are formulated and implemented in any public
SYNOPSIS
4
health system, the input of health professionals is one of the most important issues of priority.
This is because health professionals play an integral role in the identification and setting up goals
for community health initiatives while also establishing the relevant structures that should be
used in the implementation phase. This implies that high levels of competence among health
professionals are essential in order to achieve success within the context of implementation and
application of community health initiative in any country. Based on this aspect, it is evident that
the incompetence of some health professionals in Uganda constitute a major problem in the
implementation of community health initiatives that are geared towards addressing the problem
of high rate of malaria prevalence in the country's population.
The reasons as to why the clarification of goals is an important aspect of priority in the
use of the FIFA world cup as a social behavior-change communication vehicle to engage men in
Uganda to improve malaria prevention can also be analyzed in terms of improvement of
decision-making efficiency. In order for social behavior-change communication programs in
public health to be successful, it is always important to ensure that efficiency is maintained in the
entire framework of decision making. One of the main reasons is on the clarification of goals of
the program contributing significantly to success in decision-making is that such an approach
helps in prevention of redundancies and uncertainty. The clarification of goals is also helpful in
the decision-making process for social behavior-change communication programs in public
health because it plays an integral role in assessment of the extent to which different actions are
consistent with best practices. Without specifying goals for the social behavior-change
communication programs in public health, such outcomes cannot be achieved.
The reasons as to why ineffective public health policies have compromised the fight
against malaria in Uganda and also be analyzed in terms of establishment of strategies for
SYNOPSIS
5
promoting public-private partnerships (Kiemde, Tahita, Bonko, Mens, Tinto, van Hensbroek,
&Schallig, 2018). In the 21st century, partnership between public and private sector is one of the
main strategies used in dealing with different public health problems in the population. The main
advantage of such partnerships is that they help cleaning establishment of high levels of
professionalism especially in implementation of initiatives such as public enlightenment
programs. However, the successful implementation of public-private partnership is heavily
dependent on the extent to which the relevant public health policies have been established. In
Uganda, ineffective public health policies have made it difficult for the relevant remarks of
promoting public-private partnerships to be established in response to malaria as well as other
health problems in the country.
The process of implementing social behavior-change communication programs, the first
step involves the clarification or statement or program goals. This is the specification of the
various goals that comprise the framework of expected outcomes once the implementation of the
social behavior-change communication program is complete. It is vitally important to emphasize
the fact that there are various reasons as to why the specification of program goals is an
important step in the implementation framework of social behavior-change communication
programs in public health. The statement of goals is pertinent because it ensures that high levels
of timeliness are maintained in the entire implementation process of the program. Despite the
fact that there are many issues and elements that can undermine the success of any social
behavior-change communication programs in public health, the lack of timeliness is one of the
most notable barriers for efficiency.
The problems faced in the engagement of men in the country on malaria prevention in
Uganda can also be analyzed in terms of the issue of ineffective policies (Kim, Nhem, Dourng,
SYNOPSIS
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&Ménard, 2015). The health policy framework of any country is a major determinant of whether
population health goals are achieved or not. In most cases, many public health problems can be
connected to the absence or use of ineffective policies. It was important to highlight the fact that
there are various reasons as to why ineffective policies have contributed to the challenges
associated with the problem of ineffective malaria prevention in Uganda.
The leadership of the country's public health system should prioritize the establishment of
an effective framework that is aimed at ensuring that high standards of constituency are
maintained in the development as well as application of distinctive strategies for responding to
the problem (Ayogu, Ukwe, &Nna, 2016). The integration of evidence-based practice is one of
them approaches that can be used by the country's public health system in order to ensure that the
strategic framework that is the published and implemented is consistent with best practices that
are implemented in other parts of the world. The strategies developed by the country's public
health system in response to this issue should also be characterized by the required level of
flexibility in order to ensure that significant adjustments and changes can be made in the event
they are needed.
The ineffective health infrastructure systems have also compromised the effectiveness
with which people infected with malaria can access quality health services. Based on these
perspectives, it is evident that government bureaucracy is one of the most notable stumbling
blocks that have undermined the successful implementation of initiatives for engagement of men
in the country on malaria prevention within the context of the Ugandan population. It is essential
for the relevant mechanisms and strategies to be established in order to deal with this barrier so
as to strengthen the country's resilience and readiness to deal with potential problems associated
with high infection rates of malaria in the population in the long term.
SYNOPSIS
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The incompetence of some health professionals serves as another major challenge when it
comes to the engagement of men in the country on malaria prevention in Uganda. Despite the
fact that the country has some health professionals and experts across different specialties, the
ratio of qualified physicians and nurses to individuals in the population is glaringly low
compared to the stipulated international standards. Public health problems such as high
prevalence rates of malaria in the population can only be successfully addressed when high
standards of competence are evident among all health professionals in the country (Harvey,
Incardona, Martin, Lussiana, Streat, Dolan, & Cunningham, 2017).
The incompetence of some health professionals in Uganda compromises the manner in
which decisions are made at the different stages of policy development and implementation and
this has a ripple effect in terms of undermining the successful fight against malaria is addressed
(Dougnon, Bankole, Hounmanou, Echebiri, Atchade, & Mohammed, 2015). The ineffective
decision-making approach used by the incompetence of some health professionals in Uganda
also undermines the fight against malaria in the country in terms of ineffective use of best
practices in the treatment of positive cases of this disease. In the treatment process or malaria as
well as other health complications, it is always important to ensure that high standards of
efficiency and accuracy are maintained as far as decision-making processes are concerned.
One of the most notable ways in which inconsistent strategies undermine the successful
coach malaria prevention programs are implemented is that they complicate the framework of
monitoring feedback in terms of what has been achieved based on the currently implemented
initiatives. Monitoring feedback of the applied initiatives is always helpful in making decisions
on whether it's difficult adjustments or changes should be made or the existing initiative should
be maintained as they are. When the strategies that are used are more or less inconsistent, it is
SYNOPSIS
8
significantly difficult for information be monitored in a manner that is accurate and objective.
This has been a significant problem within the context of the country's health system as a result
of numerous challenges associated with the inconsistent policies as well as strategies related to
the problem of malaria prevention in the population. From a different perspective, the reasons as
to why the application of inconsistent strategy is a major stumbling block in the fight against
malaria in Uganda if that such an approach compromises the efficiency with which available
resources are allocated using a specified or objective priority framework (Birhanie, 2016).
One of the most notable reasons as to why such policies compromise the standard of
public health is that they do not provide a reliable framework for goal setting. Depending on the
manner in which public health goals are established, the framework of outcomes can be
improved or compromised. When public health policies are ineffective, it becomes significantly
difficult for high level of specificity to be maintained in setting goals for different initiatives and
programs including the engagement of men in the country on malaria prevention across the
different districts in the country. Another reason as to why ineffective policies are major
stumbling blocks in the fight against malaria in Uganda is that they make it significantly difficult
for the available resources to be allocated efficiently.
It is notable that there are numerous instances during which resources meant facilitate
the implementation of malaria prevention programs have been swindled by public health officials
who are more focused on personal interests as opposed to national population goals as far as
health care is concerned. It is significantly difficult for the intended outcomes as far as malaria
prevention is concerned to be achieved unless the problem of continued misappropriation of
available resources is not resolved in an effective and sustainable way. High levels of
accountability must be integrated into public health system in this country while also ensuring
SYNOPSIS
9
that accurate information is provided to the relevant heads of department in order to ensure that
there are appropriate checks and balances for funds meant to help in the fight against malaria in
Uganda. This is a strategic approach that has been successfully implemented in some other
countries in sub-Saharan Africa and it implies that it will be an effective platform for dealing
with this stumbling block within the context of Uganda’s healthcare system.
It is also vitally important to accentuate the fact that ineffective public health policies in
this country have complicated the framework of ensuring that all the major and minor
stakeholders in public health are involved in the fight against malaria in the population. The
involvement of all stakeholders is an integral aspect that makes a significant difference
especially in terms of identification of needs of different populations or communities across the
country. As a result of ineffective public health policies in Uganda, important stakeholders have
been sidelined in decision-making processes especially when it comes to public enlightenment
initiatives as well as allocation of resources to malaria prevention programs across the different
districts.
Inadequate resources imply that the public enlightenment initiatives are not characterized
by their attainment of the intended goals and objectives because they are implemented in limited
areas of the country. This is undesirable as far as department of public health standards is
concerned. It is also evident that the inadequacy of resources makes it significantly complex for
public health professionals in Uganda’s public health system to be trained separately on the
various best practices that should be used in responding to malaria (Hawkes, Conroy, Opoka,
Namasopo, Liles, John, & Kain, 2014). Without having sufficient expertise, it is increasingly
difficult for the best possible outcomes and results to be achieved. These elements are indicative
SYNOPSIS
10
of the various reasons as to why inadequacy of resources is a major stumbling block when it
comes to the engagement of men in the country on malaria prevention in Uganda.
Inadequate resources constitute another stumbling block that is evident in the engagement
of men in the country on malaria prevention in Uganda. This is a problem that not only is related
to malaria prevention initiatives and programs but also other areas of priority as far as public
health in this country is concerned. Despite the fact that there are many factors and issues
affecting the successful programs are formulated and implemented in public health system, the
availability of sufficient resources as one of the most important issues of priority (Iglesias,
Subirats, Trevisi, Ramírez-Olivencia, Castán, Puente, & Toro, 2014). This is because resources
are required in every level and stage of malaria prevention. It is notable that there are various
ways in the problem of inadequate resources has compromised the engagement of men in the
country on malaria prevention in the context of Uganda’s public health system. This issue has
made it difficult for the ministry of health to successfully procure reliable and high-quality
equipment that is integral in combating malaria in the population. Such equipment is important
not only in preventative health but also in treatment of positive cases of malaria within the
country's population.
In essence, it is notable that there are various ways in which the incompetence of some
health professionals in Uganda compromise assessment which malaria prevention initiatives are
established and implemented within the country's health system. One of the main ways in which
this issue serves as a stumbling block for malaria prevention is that it undermines the decisionmaking process when it comes to the formulation of policies that are connected to the problem.
Although there are many factors affecting the framework of success in terms of policy
SYNOPSIS
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formulation and implementation, decision-making among health professionals is one of the most
important determinants of success.
In addition to compromised decision-making processes, another reason as to why
inadequate research has undermined malaria prevention programs in this country is that it results
in insufficient and inaccurate data. In order for malaria prevention programs to be highly
effective and successful, it is imperative that accurate information is used in the different
processes. Such information can only be sufficiently obtained through the use of scientific
research processes and mechanisms. It is also evident that inadequate research has undermined
the application of evidence-based practice in the formulation and uptake of malaria prevention
programs not only in major cities such as Kampala but also other parts of the country. This is a
factor that is strongly indicative of the pertinent role played by research when it comes to the
formulation and implementation of programs that are aimed at malaria prevention. It is also
evident that inadequate research contributes to the use of malaria prevention strategies that are
not consistent with the specific needs targeted populations (Mfuh, Achonduh-Atijegbe,
Bekindaka, Esemu, Mbakop, Gandhi, &Nerurkar, 2019). Consistency is always a major aspect
of priority that plays an integral role in determining whether the required outcomes are achieved
or not as far as prevention of disease in the population is concerned. Depending on whether high
levels of consistency are maintained or not, the framework of preventing diseases in the
population can be compromised or strengthened.
However, the inadequacy of resources has made it imperative that most of the equipment
procured by the government at the substandard or inconsistent with population needs when it
comes to malaria prevention. Inadequate resources have also derailed the fight against malaria in
this country in terms of implementation of public enlightenment or education initiatives. These
SYNOPSIS
12
initiatives are reliant on availability of adequate resources so as to diploma qualified and skilled
personnel while also reaching out to as many people as possible within the country's population.
From a different standpoint, the reasons as to why the incompetence of some health
professionals in Uganda is a major problem in the fight against malaria in the country can also be
analyzed in terms of the contribution, they make in health research (Boyce, PrudhommeO’Meara,Turner, Menya, &Laktabai, 2018). Health professionals in any country are major
stakeholders in health research because they provide information while also playing an integral
role in the identification of existing gaps that should be addressed through the use of different
strategies such as policies as well as improvement of existing practices and strategies.
From a different perspective, the reasons as to why government bureaucracy is a
significant barrier for the effective engagement of men in the country on malaria prevention in
Uganda can also be analyzed in terms of the issue of establishment of health infrastructure
systems. Health infrastructure systems are important in battling malaria or preventing the
disease from affecting members of the population because they play a supporting role in
informing as well as treatment identified cases (Mahende, Ngasala, Lusingu, Tai-Soon Yong,
Lushino, Lemnge, & Premji, 2016). As a result of high levels of government bureaucracy in this
country, it has become increasingly difficult for health infrastructure systems to be consistent
with the magnitude or nature of the problem.
Despite the fact that there are numerous factors affecting the success with which malaria
prevention programs are established and integrated in the public health system of any country, it
is always important to ensure that such strategies are based on research. This is because research
plays an integral role in informing action and decisions, especially in terms of identification of
specific needs facing the population (Modrek, Schatzkin, De La Cruz, Isiguzo, Nwokolo,
SYNOPSIS
13
Anyanti, & Liu, 2014). In line with this perspective, Uganda is not an exemption. In this
country, inadequate resources are directed towards health research on issues such as malaria as
well as other diseases.
Depending on the extent to which high standards of timeliness of be maintained in the
implementation process of social behavior-change communication programs in public health, the
framework of results can either be improved or compromised (Adu-Gyasi, Asante, Amoako,
Amoako, Ankrah, Dosoo, & Owusu-Agyei, 2018). When goals of the program have been
specified, timeliness is achieved because there is a high level of specificity and the
implementation of each action or task that constitutes the entire initiative. On the other hand,
when goals of social behavior-change communication programs in public health have not been
clarified, there is always the risk that some of the action might be characterized by delay in the
implementation process. Such delays are unnecessary in the broader picture of attainment of
success in the social behavior-change communication programs in public health is concerned.
As far as the stumbling blocks for the successful engagement of men in the country on
malaria prevention in Uganda are concerned, another major problem involves the
misappropriation of available resources. Many factors have contributed extensively to the
misappropriation of available resources including challenges such as the absence of appropriate
accounting mechanisms as well as corruption in the country's health system. The continued
misappropriation of funds and available resources in the country's health system has undermined
the success with which different government policies on malaria prevention can be successfully
implemented (Ayele, Zewotir, &Mwambi, 2014). This is a stumbling block that also makes it
difficult for Uganda to gain or attract the support of the international community from
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14
organizations such as the who in its quest prevent and ameliorates the prevalence rate of malaria
in the population.
As a result of the extensive level of government bureaucracy in Uganda, it is
significantly difficult for an objective approach to be used in prioritizing the manner in which
resources are allocated (Mbonye, Clarke, Lal, Chandler, Hutchinson, Hansen, & Magnussen,
2015). For many years, this challenge has derailed the fight against malaria in Uganda as well as
other public health problems such as HIV/AIDS. Government bureaucracy in this country has
also made it difficult for effective policies to be developed and implemented with the objective
of helping in the fight against malaria.
As a result of such stakeholders being sidelined, it is significantly difficult for the
intended outcomes to be achieved as far as improvement of the framework of malaria prevention
in this country is concerned (Joseph &Uchila, 2018). The sidelining of important stakeholders in
malaria prevention programs as a result of the ineffective public health policies in Uganda has
also had the effect of inconsistencies in the strategies used across the different districts. When
such inconsistencies are evident, there is always the risk that the intended results and outcomes
are undermined as far as prevention of public health problems such as malaria is concerned. In
view of this aspects, it is evident that the ineffective public health policies in Uganda are major
barriers in the successful engagement of men in the country on malaria prevention as well as
other public health problems in the country. The relevant actions and interventions should be
established in order to ensure that the problem is resolved in a manner that is not only sustainable
but also consistent with best practices that are applied in other parts of the world including the
United States of America.
SYNOPSIS
15
Apart from inadequate research, another significant challenge that is evident within the
context of Uganda’s public health system in the engagement of men in the country on malaria
prevention pertains to government bureaucracy. Across the different government departments
and ministries that are involved in health matters in Uganda, bureaucracy is rampant. This
serves as a stumbling block for the successful implementation of malaria prevention initiatives
across the country in many ways. One of the most notable aspects of priority in terms of the
bureaucracy being a stumbling block for malaria prevention is the fact that it compromises the
transparency with which resources are prioritized for different programs and initiatives.
Although there are many factors and issues affecting the success of which public health
problems are successfully resolved in any jurisdiction, efficiency in allocation of resources is
always a major issue of priority. Depending on the success and efficiency with which resources
are allocated, the best possible outcomes can either be achieved or undermined. This is an issue
that not only applies to the short-term but also in the long-term. In view of such an aspect, it
follows that the leadership of the country's public health system should prioritize the
establishment of the various reasons as to why inconsistent strategies are being implemented
with regard to the issue of malaria prevention in Uganda. Without successfully identifying such
process or factors that are linked to the problem, it can be significantly difficult for the issue to
be resolved while also strengthening the country's response to malaria not only in urban areas but
also rural parts that are also currently affected by the problem. In responding to any public health
problem, it is always important to ensure that coordinated strategy and response framework is
established. This ensures that high levels of specificity are maintained while also preventing the
potential escalation of the problem especially in the short-term. In line with this perspective, the
problem of high rates of prevalence of malaria in Uganda is not an exemption.
SYNOPSIS
16
Although there are many factors affecting the success with which policies for malaria
prevention are formulated and implemented in public health systems, government input is one of
the most important issues of priority. Depending on the efficiency with which the government
plays its specific role in the policy process, the intended results can be achieved or compromise.
This has been the case in Uganda as far as the framework of government bureaucracy is
concerned because it undermines the success with which effective policies are formulated as far
as the issue of malaria prevention goes.
Although there are many factors affecting the success with which public health resources
are allocated in any public health system, the existing policy framework is one of the most
important issues of consideration. Depending on the existing public health policies, the
framework of allocation of resources public health initiatives and programs can either be
effective or ineffective. This has been the case in Uganda because ineffective policies have
undermined the efficiency with which available resources can be matched with existing needs
and priorities such as engagement of men in the country on malaria prevention as well as other
public health problems in the population.
Objectives
a.
Use the World Cup as a means to offer an opportunity for male (being the highest
football fans) dialogue and involvement in malaria prevention and control. Use it to define male
roles in malaria control and engage young male to chase malaria.
b.
Use the World Cup as a channel to bridge the gap, and increase appreciation of the roles
and responsibilities between health facilities and communities. Use it to position community
SYNOPSIS
17
health workers as a channel for malaria control information, services and treatment and present
them as malaria champions.
c.
Use the World Cup as a vehicle to promote the simple steps, among Ugandans, about the
actions to be taken for malaria prevention and control.
d.
Use the World Cup as a mouthpiece to motivate Ugandans to adopt health seeking
malaria prevention and control behaviors
Research questions
a.
Does World cup provide a platform for male dialogue and involvement in malaria
prevention and control?
b.
Does world cup provide a channel to bridge the gap, and increase appreciate of the roles
and responsibilities between health facilities and communities?
c.
Does World cup provide an avenue to promote the simple steps among Ugandans about
the actions to be taken for malaria prevention and control.
d.
Does world cup act as a mouthpiece to motivate Ugandans to adopt health seeking
malaria prevention and control behavior?
Hypothesis of the study
a.
Male dialogue and involvement has an effect on malaria control and prevention
b.
There is positive contribution of world cup in bridging the gap and increasing
appreciation of the roles and responsibilities between health facilities and communities.
SYNOPSIS
c.
18
World cup plays a significant role in promoting simple steps among Ugandans, about the
actions to be taken for malaria prevention and control.
d.
There is a significant contribution of World cup in motivating Ugandans to adopt health
seeking malaria prevention and control behaviors
Proposed methodology
A quasi experimental designed was employed to assess the change in both the
intervention and control districts. The study will be anchored on the COM-B model which is an
interactional model, which suggests that by changing behavior we are also impacting on
determinants of behavior, which allows for long-term behavior change. This model identifies
three factors that need to be present for any behavior change to occur, and these are, capability,
opportunity and motivation.
Results and Discussion
During the implementation of the social behavior change communication initiative when
FIFA World Cup matches are being televised and broadcasted to audiences of men in Uganda,
the messaging emphasized on the need to ensure that the prescribed medication for malaria is
adhered to in terms of completing the dosage as instructed by the doctor or health practitioner.
The control sites where the intervention of using FIFA world cup as a social behavior change
communication vehicle to engage men in Uganda to improve malaria prevention was not
implemented, the problem of failing to adhere to the medication for malaria was rampant and not
change was observed. This is one of the main indicators of the fact that the social behavior
change communication of using the FIFA World Cup in the targeted population of men in
SYNOPSIS
19
Uganda as a platform of improving awareness and preventative health initiatives of malaria was
highly effective.
In the intervention sites, one of the implications of the intervention was that there was a
significant increase and improvement of 31% when it comes to adhering to medication. This
information was obtained from interviews that were conducted in the 25 districts that served as
intervention sites for the use of FIFA world cup as a social behavior change communication
vehicle to engage men in Uganda to improve malaria prevention. Although there are many
stumbling blocks to malaria among men in Uganda, failure to adhere to the prescribed
medications is always a notable issue of concern.
Conclusion
One of the main ways in which these programs contributed to preventative health care is
that they provide a platform on which the specific causes of community health issues can be
identified. The accurate identification of the various reasons as to why specific community
health challenges occur in the first place is always a help to starting point for the implementation
of preventive health initiatives that are applicable in the long-term and also in the short-term.
Despite the fact that there are many strategies and mechanisms that can be used as a platform on
which to identify the various reasons as to why community health issues are taking place in a
specific area, the use of the FIFA world cup as a social behavior-change communication vehicle
to engage men in Uganda to improve malaria prevention is helpful because of the extent to which
it serves as a platform for objective analysis. The ways in which incompetence of some health
professionals in Uganda constitutes a stumbling block in the country's efforts to fight malaria can
also be analyzed in terms of the contribution they make towards different community health
initiatives. Community health is one of the most important issues of priority as far as the best
SYNOPSIS
20
practices for prevention and treatment of malaria is concerned. Depending on the approach that
has been used within the framework of community health, high levels of success and efficiency
in attainment of goals and outcomes can be achieved or compromised. Despite the fact that there
are many components affecting the manner in which community health initiatives are formulated
and implemented in any public health system, the input of health professionals is one of the most
important issues of priority. This is because health professionals play an integral role in the
identification and setting up goals for community health initiatives while also establishing the
relevant structures that should be used in the implementation phase. This implies that high levels
of competence among health professionals are essential in order to achieve success within the
context of implementation and application of community health initiative in any country. Based
on this aspect, it is evident that the incompetence of some health professionals in Uganda
constitute a major problem in the implementation of community health initiatives that are geared
towards addressing the problem of high rate of malaria prevalence in the country's population.
The reasons as to why the clarification of goals is an important aspect of priority in the
use of the FIFA world cup as a social behavior-change communication vehicle to engage men in
Uganda to improve malaria prevention can also be analyzed in terms of improvement of
decision-making efficiency. In order for social behavior-change communication programs in
public health to be successful, it is always important to ensure that efficiency is maintained in the
entire framework of decision making. One of the main reasons is on the clarification of goals of
the program contributing significantly to success in decision-making is that such an approach
helps in prevention of redundancies and uncertainty. The clarification of goals is also helpful in
the decision-making process for social behavior-change communication programs in public
health because it plays an integral role in assessment of the extent to which different actions are
SYNOPSIS
consistent with best practices. Without specifying goals for the social behavior-change
communication programs in public health, such outcomes cannot be achieved.
21
SYNOPSIS
22
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