Mass communication activities supported by small & specific innovations help to improve Family Planning coverage in urban slums

Introduction: Baseline in Aligarh city estimated the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate at 38% with 20% unmet need. 63% percent women had no discussion on family planning with their spouses in last six months. As per the qualitative assessment, spousal communication is less and prevailing myths result in community hesitation to talk and adopt modern family planning methods. Objective: To demonstrate a combination of mega and small communication activities in increasing contraceptive use. Methodology: 350,000 slum populations were divided in seven clusters for activation. Module for each cluster included pre-publicity, enrollments and screening of couples. Mega finale and awards to winner couples created a buzz. This was further capitalized through small community level innovations where 2,202 and 954 women participated in Mehandi competition and post partum family planning campaign respectively. Tracking sheets were developed and analyzed to assess results. Results: 11,500 couples enrolled, 2988 were counseled and 350 were screened for video interview. 18000 couples participated in final event to have direct exposure to family planning messages. Innovations helped to convert 21% of non user participants in user of long acting contraceptive method. Significant 30% increase in exposure to radio and TV messaging is recorded. Conclusion: Both activities supplement each other to improve coverage of family planning services. Small activities at community level help to capitalize the output of activation model to improve coverage. Small events also help mega communication activities to discuss family planning in mass. Both big and small activities are required in cities where contraceptive prevalence rate is low.