1. The phrase Pedagogy of disgust as used by Luton is used to imply the use of disgusting picture or content during public health campaigns that instills or drives fear among the target audience so that they incorporate the message of the campaign (Lupton, 2014, p. 12). An example of pedagogy of disgust according to the article is where the camera captures the excess yellow fatty layers covering the organs of the individual in the campaign. This disgusting image is used to educate the audience on the dangers of eating junk foods such as pizza.
2. Positive outcomes
Pedagogy of disgust has many advantages when used in public health campaigns. It has the ability to evoke positive response form the target audience. When for example the focus of the public health campaign is to reduce smoking since it leads to lung cancer, the campaign can use disgusting images of a deteriorated lung and body of the smoker (Lupton, 2014, p.6). This will instill fear among the smokers who would in return quit the habit. Another example is public health campaigns targeting reduction in HIV/AIDS. In this campaign, the method can be used to achieve its objectives by using images of the deadly virus and the effects it poses to the body. This will drive people towards safe sex practices and will eventually reduce the rates of HIV/AIDS among the target audience.
Negative outcomes
This method is morally wrong since it drives fear among the target audience. This method has been linked to punishing of the target audience due to their lack of self-control as well as their inability to control their bodies. This method also poses a challenge to the dignity of the audience and it marginalizes the already affected group making them appear inferior.
3. The aim of public health campaigns is to provide the target audience with information on how well they can prevent infection or spread of diseases from one person to another. There are different methods used and one of them is pedagogy of disgust. This is a method that uses disgusting tools to drive the objective home. Studies have shown that the disgusting tools used have been associated with positive outcome. Therefore, I feel this strategy is worthwhile and should be used often despite the ethical and moral dilemmas surrounding it. Majority of the communities believe in first-hand information and this method is good at that. Further research ought to be done to make this method as good as possible.
References:
Lupton, D. (2014). The pedagogy of disgust: the ethical, moral and political implications of using disgust in public health campaigns. Critical Public Health, 25(1), 4-14. doi:10.1080/09581596.2014.885115
4. There are different strategies that can be used to communicate messages about reproductive and sexual health to members of the public. They include:
- Use of social media especially to the young generation such as Facebook, twitter and Instagram to educate them on diseases associated with sexual practices
- Use of mass media like television showing the negative impacts of unsafe sex practices.
- Public address system can also be used in places with many people such as market places.
- Mobile applications especially androids applications that are tailored towards providing information on safe sex practices can also be used.
- Use of posters with information on the consequences of unprotected sex can also be used.
5. For any public health campaign to be successful or effective, there are different factors that are supposed to be considered or adhered to.
- One of the factors is effective performance management. This refers to the rigorous, real time monitoring, evaluation and improvement of the campaign .A public health campaign would only be effective if there is monitoring and evaluation (Freeman, Potente, Rock, & McIver, 2015, p.2). This is because it will be able to identify the shortcomings of the campaign midway and there will be necessary changes.
- Accurate and timely information/communication is another important factor. The objective of public health campaigns is to provide information. Public health campaigns in most cases reach out to a large number of people and therefore providing false information will definitely lead to failure of the campaign and it would take time to correct the mistakes. A successful public health campaign should therefore involve very accurate information which should be provided at the right time.
- Political commitment can define the success of a public health campaign. The government should be able to support any public health campaign for it to be successful. If the government does not support the campaign, it would be difficult for the objectives of the campaign to be achieved.
References:
Freeman, B., Potente, S., Rock, V., & McIver, J. (2015). Social media campaigns that make a difference: what can public health learn from the corporate sector and other social change marketers? Public Health Research & Practice. doi:10.17061/phrp2521517
