Strategic communication has been proven to increase use and continuation of modern family planning methods. Strategic programs that have proven to be acceptable and effective today are (1) science and research based; (2) client-centered; (3) benefit-oriented; (4) service-linked; (5) entertainment-education focussed; (6) professionally developed; (7) advocacy linked; (8) expanding to scale; (9) programmatically sustainable; and (10) cost-effective. Campaigns and evaluation data from Bolivia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Uganda illustrate how these key elements can be combined to support changes in reproductive health knowledge, service utilization and contraceptive prevalence.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will 1) Be able to define strategic communication 2) Be able to explain how the elements of strategic communication can be applied in practice to encourage behavior change 3) Be able to identify challenges for strategic communication in future
Keywords: Communication, Family Planning
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.