Mopani Junction

Before the drama was produced, a team of young researchers spent several weeks doing research in 6 different communities of Zimbabwe, learning about the reasons that people find it difficult to change their behaviour. Researchers hoped to find out what people think could be done to help. A group of young writers was recruited and trained in behaviour change communication techniques; they used the research findings to develop the story of Mopani Junction.

Linking to "the local" is a key strategy guiding soap opera content development. The drama is set in a secondary school, a bar, a shop, and various homes in the fictional town of Mopani Junction, as well as in the farms and fields of a nearby rural village, Mopani Springs. Local music features strongly in every episode and showcases both popular, established musicians and up-and-coming new talent. The story focuses on the everyday lives of an extended family. “The Gumbo family and their relationships with each other are sorely tested by the trials and tribulations of life. They must forge a path through economic hardship, the clash between modern and traditional ways, new loves and old animosities, all set against the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In so doing they draw on a bedrock of support from members of the community, from the church and the local health services, all of whom find that they too must adapt to the new challenges presented by HIV/AIDS.”

The series uses the Modeling and Reinforcement to Combat HIV/AIDS (MARCH) communication strategy, which involves elements such as personalisation, affective compelling, and provision of models desired for behaviour and linked to social and cultural narratives. MARCH consists of two main components, which informed the development of Mopani Junction:

1. Entertainment-education using broadcast media - namely, long-running serialised dramas. Based on social cognitive theory, these radio dramas are designed to portray role models evolving toward the adoption of positive behaviour.
2. Interpersonal reinforcement at the community level - the idea is that support from friends, family members, and others can help individuals initiate behaviour change as well as facilitate larger social/ norm changes that are necessary for behavioural effects to be sustained over time.

As part of MARCH, both media and interpersonal intervention activities are linked to resources in the community and, wherever possible, increased access to services, supplies, and other supporting elements. “By identifying with the main characters in Mopani Junction, who embark on journeys of behaviour change, the goal is for listeners to learn how they too might change.”

HIV/AIDS.