Engendering Health Promotion through Online Participatory Communication: Case Study of Monkey Pox in Osun State

Abstract

This study investigates the role of online participatory communication in promoting awareness and preventive actions against monkeypox in Osun State, Nigeria. With the increasing reliance on digital platforms for health communication, this research explores how online engagement influences public knowledge and behavior regarding monkeypox. The study adopts a qualitative approach, using focus group discussions with 8 public health officers and nurses from various hospitals in Osun State. The objectives are to examine the extent of online communication’s influence on awareness, the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the use of digital platforms, and the relationship between knowledge gained online and subsequent preventive actions. The research is framed by the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which help explain how perceptions of disease severity and social influence shape health behaviors. Findings suggest that online platforms significantly contribute to health awareness but face challenges such as digital illiteracy, limited internet access, and misinformation. The study concludes that online participatory communication is a crucial tool for health promotion, recommending increased investment in digital literacy and cross-sector collaboration to maximize its effectiveness.