Abstract

International Quarterly of Community Health Education. 1995. 15(3): 279-89.

This study evaluates the impact of street theater, as representative of both mass media and interpersonal communication modes of influencing change, on knowledge and attitudes about contraception in Peru. This study evaluates the performance of "Ms. Rumors," a story about a sexually active couple's search for contraception, which is spoiled by misinformation. The play includes a young couple, a pharmacist named Don Victor, and Ms. Rumors. The action surrounds Ms. Rumors' attempts to spread misinformation. The pharmacist alleviates the fears with simple explanations. During April 1992 and July 1994 the play was performed about 200 times before an estimated audience of about 61,000 people. 4500 interpersonal counseling sessions were conducted (30 people per performance). Pre- and post-tests were administered among four audience members per performance (17 performances). Findings reveal that most misconceptions pertained to specific modern contraceptives. The percentage change between pre- and post-test scores for the item, "the pill produces cancer," was 10.2%. All 11 item-scores declined between the pre and post tests. Changes in knowledge statements were greater than changes in attitude statements. Attitude statements changed very little. Factor analysis shows that most of the eleven statements clustered on one dimension. Statements 3, 4, and 11 ("the pill affects the nerves," "the pill is easy to use," and "the condom is easy to use") did not vary with other knowledge and attitude statements, and consequently these statements were dropped from the evaluation. The misinformation scale was considered reliable. Pre- and post-test scores were 21.1 and 18.1, which was a significant decrease of 9.4%. Misinformation for women decreased an average of 3.3 points, and 2.0 points for men. Misinformation decreased the most among persons with more than a primary education. Most of the decreases pertained to misinformation that the pill produces cancer and the pill affects the fetus. The drama was considered equally effective among married and unmarried respondents, but greater decreases in misinformation scores were among women and those with higher education.

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• Street theater as a tool to reduce family planning misinformation