Harnessing Technology for Health Advocacy: The Development of a Media Tracking Platform for Health Policy Analysis
1
Public Health Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
2
Software, MCCSpace, Abuja, Nigeria
3
Bacteriology Department, Nigeria Center for Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria
4
Mega PCR Laboratory, APIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception and influencing policy priorities 1. In Nigeria, however, systematic tools for monitoring and analysing health policy discourse have been limited 2. This research developed a user-friendly digital Media Tracker framework that strengthens evidence-based advocacy. The Health Policy Media Tracker enabled real-time tracking, tagging, filtering, sentiment analysis, and visualisation of media content on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH); primary health care; and related health policy themes across national and sub-national contexts.
METHODS:
We developed the Health Policy Media Tracker framework to serve as both a web and mobile application. The platform integrates secure authentication, automated and manual data entry, filtering and tagging functions, and a dynamic analytics dashboard. Features include sentiment analysis, actor mapping, and thematic trend visualisation through charts, graphs, and heat maps. The tool will also support automated reporting, allowing advocacy teams to generate briefs and summaries in real time. The mobile version was optimised for Android and iOS with offline sync capabilities to ensure accessibility across diverse user environments.
RESULTS:
At the project piloting phase, early stakeholder engagement was critical in shaping the system architecture and taxonomy. We observed that sentiment analysis is particularly valuable for health policy advocacy, as it highlights the emotional undertones of coverage and provides actionable insights for framing communication strategies. Technical challenges, such as ensuring data standardization across heterogeneous media sources, underscored the importance of modular design and scalable architecture.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our experience demonstrates that collaborative software development can deliver innovative digital tools tailored to the needs of the health policy sector. The Health Policy Media Tracker empowers advocates with actionable insights, enhances accountability, and strengthens data-driven public engagement. As developers, we see this as a model for how technology can advance advocacy, governance, and health outcomes across Africa.
The media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception and influencing policy priorities 1. In Nigeria, however, systematic tools for monitoring and analysing health policy discourse have been limited 2. This research developed a user-friendly digital Media Tracker framework that strengthens evidence-based advocacy. The Health Policy Media Tracker enabled real-time tracking, tagging, filtering, sentiment analysis, and visualisation of media content on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH); primary health care; and related health policy themes across national and sub-national contexts.
METHODS:
We developed the Health Policy Media Tracker framework to serve as both a web and mobile application. The platform integrates secure authentication, automated and manual data entry, filtering and tagging functions, and a dynamic analytics dashboard. Features include sentiment analysis, actor mapping, and thematic trend visualisation through charts, graphs, and heat maps. The tool will also support automated reporting, allowing advocacy teams to generate briefs and summaries in real time. The mobile version was optimised for Android and iOS with offline sync capabilities to ensure accessibility across diverse user environments.
RESULTS:
At the project piloting phase, early stakeholder engagement was critical in shaping the system architecture and taxonomy. We observed that sentiment analysis is particularly valuable for health policy advocacy, as it highlights the emotional undertones of coverage and provides actionable insights for framing communication strategies. Technical challenges, such as ensuring data standardization across heterogeneous media sources, underscored the importance of modular design and scalable architecture.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our experience demonstrates that collaborative software development can deliver innovative digital tools tailored to the needs of the health policy sector. The Health Policy Media Tracker empowers advocates with actionable insights, enhances accountability, and strengthens data-driven public engagement. As developers, we see this as a model for how technology can advance advocacy, governance, and health outcomes across Africa.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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