Assessing the Impact of Radio on Sexual Health Communication: A Comparative Study of Radio 4 and Hot FM Zambia among Residents of Kalingalinga Ward 30, Lusaka District, Zambia

Sexual and reproductive health continues to be a major development concern in Zambia, especially in highly populated urban regions like Kalingalinga Ward 30 in Lusaka, where high rates of adolescent pregnancy and HIV prevalence continue to exist. While mass media is a key tool for health communication, the comparative effectiveness of public and commercial radio in influencing local health behaviours remains under-researched. This study evaluated how sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among residents of Kalingalinga were affected by radio programming by Hot FM Zambia (commercial) and Radio 4 (public). It specifically examined exposure levels, the influence of radio programming on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, and the relationship between exposure and the adoption of healthy sexual practices. The study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design grounded in the pragmatist research paradigm. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 128 randomly selected respondents, while qualitative data were obtained from eight purposively selected key informants, including radio producers and health educators. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, whereas qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that 37.5% of respondents occasionally listened to SRH programmes, with Radio 4 being perceived as more reliable (64.8%) and Hot FM as more engaging (46.1%). Radio exposure was significantly associated with improved SRH knowledge and attitudes (χ² = 3.200, p = 0.012). Although awareness of HIV testing services was relatively high (74.2%), only 28.1% of respondents correctly identified consistent condom use as an effective HIV risk reduction strategy. The study concludes that while radio programming significantly improves sexual and reproductive health knowledge and promotes positive attitudes, a gap remains between awareness and behavioural change. It recommends stronger collaboration between broadcasters and health service providers, increased use of interactive radio programming, and wider adoption of local languages to improve the effectiveness of health communication.