ASSESSMENT OF RADIO CONTENT ON COMMUNITY HEALTH DEVELOPMENT ( A STUDY OF LASU 95.7FM)

This study investigates the impact of radio content on community health development, using LASU 95.7 FM as a case study. Community radio has become an increasingly significant medium for health communication and grassroots engagement, particularly in Nigeria. The aim of this research is to evaluate how LASU 95.7 FM’s health programs contribute to improving the health awareness and behavior of its listening communities. The study employed three theories; the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT). A quantitative survey method was used to gather data from community members on their exposure to LASU FM’s health programming and to assess how these programs influenced their understanding of and response to various health issues. The survey explored the types of health topics aired, the frequency of listenership, and the perceived relevance of the content to the community’s specific health challenges. Additionally, the survey examined how radio programming shaped community members' health decisions, including preventive practices and engagement with healthcare services. The results suggest that while LASU 95.7 FM provides useful general health information, its coverage of localized and diverse health issues, such as maternal health, mental health, and chronic diseases, is limited. Respondents indicated a gap between their specific health needs and the station’s programming. Nevertheless, exposure to the station’s content significantly enhanced health knowledge and encouraged positive health behaviors among listeners. The findings demonstrate the potential of community radio to serve as a tool for health development, especially when programs are tailored to reflect the specific needs of local audiences. The study concludes that with improved content diversity and increased community participation, community radio stations like LASU 95.7 FM can be instrumental in promoting health education and behavior change. The results have implications for media policy, public health communication strategies, and the role of community radio in advancing health development in Nigeria.