Development of an Animated Video to Improve Knowledge and Attitudes of Women attending Antenatal Clinics in Ibadan, Nigeria, towards Prevention and Treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract

Objective: This study highlighted the development and validation of an animated video aimed at improving knowledge and attitude of women attending antenatal clinics in Ibadan, Nigeria towards the prevention and treatment of cleft lip and palate.

Methods: This animation video spanned 6 minutes and was developed by a team of professionals from dentistry, epidemiology, communication and language arts, and animation. The development involved desktop review on video production; development of the key messages on prevention and treatment of cleft lip and palate; script development and sketching; development and selection of characters; visual style decision; voice-over narration recording; video production; and post-video production processing. The message focused on the myths versus facts about orofacial clefts and management options. The video was created in Yoruba with English subtitles. The development processes were validated for face and content quality amongst women attending antenatal clinics, dentists, public health nurses, and community health officers through individual feedback and group discussions.

Results: Feedback from validation participants confirmed the clarity, cultural appropriateness, and relevance of the key messages. Suggestions from the validation exercise were incorporated to improve the video’s accuracy, engagement, and usability.

Conclusion: This study successfully developed and validated a culturally appropriate animated educational video to address misconceptions and improve awareness about cleft lip and palate among antenatal women. The animation has the potential to serve as an effective communication tool in low-resource settings with high illiteracy levels.