Developing a Theatre for Development Framework for Maternal Health Communication in Rural Ogun State

Theatre for Development can bridge the communication gap in maternal health education for rural communities with limited health literacy, and developing a structured framework for rural Ogun State addresses a significant public health communication need. This study developed a Theatre for Development framework for maternal health communication in Egbado South, Sagamu, and Imeko-Afon Local Government Areas, Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A professional framework development methodology was applied, drawing on maternal health needs assessment data from 200 rural women, structured consultations with 12 community midwives, 10 TfD practitioners, and 6 maternal health programme officers, and benchmarking against WHO maternal health communication guidelines and documented TfD maternal health programmes in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Assessment confirmed high rates of institutional delivery avoidance (54.5 percent), inadequate antenatal attendance, and low knowledge of danger signs. The framework specifies five TfD maternal health modules addressing antenatal attendance, emergency obstetric care, nutrition during pregnancy, infant feeding, and postpartum care. Community co-authorship of performance scripts, Yoruba language delivery, and integration of local traditional birth attendants as co-educators are central framework features. Expert review by nine maternal health and TfD specialists confirmed the framework's health accuracy and cultural appropriateness. Recommendations include piloting through Ogun State Ministry of Health CHW networks and evaluating institutional delivery rates at 18-month follow-up.

Keywords: Theatre for Development, maternal health, rural Ogun State, health communication, community theatre