Table 1.

Characteristics of selected studies

Author and year	Country/city	Study population	Sample size	Partici-pants’ age	Study design	Data collection methods	Focus of the study	Type of music intervention	Facilitators	Outcome measure	Results
Anderson et al., 2022 [24]	South Africa- Limpopo province	Primary school Children/ grade3 learners	Primary school Children/ grade3 learners	Phase 1: n = 12 (Primary Schools) with n = 244 participants in song only intervention. Phase 2: n = 8 Primary schools with n = 124 participants in song only intervention	Mixed method	Pre- and post- intervention questionnaire and interview from 8 primary schools	Health literacy and behavioral education and intervention effectiveness	Culturally and Age-appropriate malaria song using participatory action research		Behavioral change, awareness, and knowledge	The result showed that culturally and age-appropriate songs can play a significant role in developing behavioral changes and spreading awareness against disease in a high-risk malaria region
Manana et al., 2019 [25]	South Africa- Kwazulu-Natal province	Community	Community	Total = 140 Community members = 100 Experts = 40	Mixed method	Self-administered surveys and community dialog sessions	Community participation in health education and implementation effectiveness	Genre song in IsiZulu, on Malaria and Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for vector control		Knowledge on malaria transmission and SIT technologies	100% of the community (Jozini) and 75% of experts agreed it was culturally appropriate and 92% of all participants agreed on content appropriateness of the song. Malaria signs and symptoms were least remembered (< 10%)
McConnell et al., 2017 [26]	Gambia	The Gambia	The Gambia	N = 46 Performance groups	Qualitative	Ethnographic research of performers and health workers, observation and analysis of Ebola prevention performances	Health message dissemination and promotion	Mandinka language song in call and response form		Health messages on Ebola symptoms, transmission, and prevention	The study explained that positive emotions such as love and happiness facilitate understanding, while negative emotions such as anger and fear present an obstacle for effective communication
Anderson et al., 2018 [27]	South Africa- Limpopo province	Young Children	Young Children	N = 10 Purposively selected experts. Focus group 1: N = 7(Female caregivers and preschool teachers) Focus group 2: N = 5 (Malaria control personnel)	Qualitative	Participatory action research, risk analysis, expert Opinion, expert interview, survey and document search	Health literacy and risk communication	Malaria prevention song with Delphi technique employing repetition		Knowledge and awareness of the link between mosquitoes and malaria	Experts agreed on importance of linking mosquitoes to malaria and recognizing early symptoms. Initially opposed including bed nets but later approved changes post-feedback Focus groups preferred inclusion of bed nets, despite experts' earlier disagreement Rejected indoor residual spraying (IRS) for children due to safety concerns
Stone, 2017 [28]	Liberia—Montserrado County	Community	Community	NA	Qualitative	Ethnographic research	Health message dissemination and promotion	Public Health jingles and Songs, Christian Hymns repurposed for emotional support		Awareness on Ebola	Songs helped convince the public, Ebola was real, dispelling myths. Sounds, particularly sirens, proved to be powerful stimuli of attention and emotion during the Ebola outbreak
Walker, 2022 [29]	South Africa—Cape town	High School Children (15–19 years old)	High School Children (15–19 years old)	N = 200 High School Students	Qualitative	Individual interviews and focus groups		“Sing” music video, Combined pop, gospel, and local South African styles. Focused on emotive imagery, powerful statistics, and musical storytelling to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS		HIV awareness music video. Experiential and firsthand responses to emotive stimuli using Qualitative analysis	Theme 1: Messaging Fatigue Theme 2: Tool for engagement within a saturated aids-related media landscape
Flax et al., 2014 [30]	Nigeria—Bauchi State	Female microcredits clients (15–45 years)	Female microcredits clients (15–45 years)	Total = 461 Intervention arm: N = 40 groups Control Groups: N = 37 groups	Cluster- Randomized controlled trial	Baseline and final survey (Pre and post intervention)	Recommendations to increase adherence to breast feeding through group counselling, health messaging and participant created content	3 component intervention: 1. Group Counselling 2. Cell phone messages 3. Songs and Drama	Enhanced local engagement and discussions, cell phone use	Breast feeding behavior	The main study outcome, exclusive breast feeding to 6 months were increased in the intervention compared to the control arm (P < 0.01). The odds of exclusive breastfeeding to 3 month (P < 0.05), but not to 1 month (P = 0.10), were also elevated in the intervention vs. the control. The intervention also changed breastfeeding behaviors in the first days of life. The odds of initiating breastfeeding within 1 h of delivery (P < 0.001) and giving only colostrum or breast milk in the first 3 d of life (P < 0.01) were increased in the intervention vs. the control arm
Bastien, 2009 [31]	Tanzania	Young people, Kilimanjaro region (majorly between 13–18 age groups)	Young people, Kilimanjaro region (majorly between 13–18 age groups)	N = 65 Young People	Qualitative	Interviews, informal conversations with community members, content analysis of popular songs	Disease prevention messages	Popular Tanzanian songs (Bongo Flava Genre) addressing AIDS metaphors, Stigma, HIV prevention messages	Music cultural relevance and engaging local narratives	Public perceptions and behaviors	Emergent themes from songs are on AIDS Metahors, Stigma, HIV prevention measures. They tried to raise awareness and stimulate awareness offering low cost, wide reach for HIV