Use and perceived effectiveness of health information dissemination channels in secondary schools in Morogoro Region, Tanzania

Abstract

This study investigated the health information channels utilised by secondary school students in the Morogoro Region, Tanzania, assessed students’ perceptions of channel effectiveness, and analysed how these perceptions influence channel use in accessing health information. The research was guided by Media Richness Theory and employed a cross-sectional mixed-methods design. The selected schools had a total population of 4,752 students. From the selected classes, 800 students constituted the sampling frame. The sample size of 271 was determined using Yamane's formula. Thereafter, proportionate sampling was used to allocate respondents to each school in proportion to its student population, ensuring fair representation. Finally, systematic random sampling was employed to select individual students from class registers because it provided an efficient and unbiased method for selecting participants after determining the required sample size for each school. Structured questionnaires collected quantitative data, while interviews and focus group discussions elicited students’ voices and experiences. The quantitative findings were analysed using descriptive statistics, Analysis of Variance [ANOVA], Duncan's Multiple Range Test, and multiple linear regression in IBM SPSS Statistics. Meanwhile, thematic analysis of the qualitative data added depth and context to the numbers. The findings indicated that students primarily received health information from peers and teachers. Face-to-face communication and printed materials emerged as the most frequently used and most effective channels. Regression analysis demonstrated that students who perceived a channel as effective were more likely to utilise face-to-face communication, printed materials, radio, and television. Channels that were trusted, easily accessible, and perceived as effective were preferred, whereas digital platforms were used less frequently due to limited access and lower levels of trust. The study concludes that peers and teachers were the most frequently consulted sources of health information among secondary school students, whereas health experts were the least used. In addition, the findings reveal that face-to-face communication was the most commonly used channel for accessing health information, followed by printed materials and radio. Furthermore, the study found that printed materials and face-to-face communication were perceived as the most effective channels for disseminating health information. In contrast, modern channels such as mobile phones and social media were used less frequently and perceived as less effective at disseminating health information. The results indicated that students were highly using face-to-face, printed, and radio. The study recommends improving face-to-face health education in schools, providing higher-quality printed health materials, supporting peer health education groups, involving more school health staff, and making digital health platforms easier to access and more trustworthy. These actions can help students get reliable health information, make better health decisions, and improve their well-being. The study also adds new evidence on how students’ views of effectiveness influence their use of health information channels in Tanzania.