This brief focuses on behavior change in community based family planning. It provides steps for incorporating a behavior change approach into program design and implementation.

The worldwide health challenges facing tens of millions of citizens, and especially children, present arguably the most significant barrier to global economic development. Fortunately new information and communication technologies (ICTs) are now available to help improve public health, with wireless communications being the most ubiquitous and widely accepted of these technologies within the developing world.

C-Change developed the Social and Behavior Change Communication Capacity Assessment Tool (SBCC-CAT) in two versions--for use with organizations (to assess program and staff capacity in SBCC), and with donors and networks (to assess their own capacity and that of the partners they support and manage). Together with a facilitator, organizations can use this tool to determine their competencies in five areas:

The C-Change project created this learning package for facilitated, face-to-face workshops on social and behavior change communication (SBCC). The package includes a series of six modules for communication practitioners working in development. A facilitator's guide accompanies each module. The C-Modules contain the following downloadable documents:

The following assessment guide should be used when you are trying to determine whether to use an existing material or to develop one yourself. It is also a helpful tool to refer to as you develop your own materials. This toolkit was primarily designed for family planning staff who develop patient information and educational materials, be it prescription directions or basic clinic information. However, all staff who directly communicate with clients will find this information useful in their interactions.

To meet their goals, family planning programs must build BCC into their overall strategies. BCC is a process that motivates people to adopt healthy behaviors and lifestyles. For example, BCC programs have motivated people to use contraception and to obtain HIV tests. BCC programs are cost-effective when they reach large audiences. BCC programs are cost-effective when they reach large audiences.  This issue of Population Reports can help managers of family planning and reproductive health programs to:

This field-tested, six-day training package will enable private voluntary organizations (PVOs) and partners to replicate the BEHAVE workshops conducted with CORE Group members in multiple countries and regions around the globe. The manual consolidates handouts and facilitator materials with easy-to-use training guidelines.

This issue of INFO Reports discusses three aspects of entertainment-education to improve family planning/reproductive health and prevent HIV infection: • How E-E works and its potential effects on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior (p. 3); • The best uses of the various E-E formats (p. 5); and • The important steps for managing E-E projects, within the framework of the general process for developing communication programming (p.12).

The tools in this issue of INFO Reports are meant to help with planning and developing a BCC component in family planning programs. The same tools can be used, however, for any health or development-related BCC program. This report is part of a set of publications on behavior change communication.

The purpose of this book is to share a set of steps and tools with those in the field to help ensure that behavior change communication efforts are developed strategically— with participation from all stakeholders, clear goals, segmented audiences, and effective messages based on sound research and credible theory. The text is based on many years of experience in the field and is supplemented with real-world examples and case studies.

Originally published in 1996 as "Communication for Behaviour change: A Toolkit for Task Managers", this document is now offered as part of the World Bank's Distance Learning Course on strategic communication. The kit supports health systems investment projects through using behaviour change communication strategies. It is designed to help World Bank managers plan and supervise the implementation of communication activities in population, health, and nutrition (PHN) projects.

This handbook presents key principles and steps in developing and evaluating health communication programs for the public, patients, and health professionals. It expands upon and replaces two earlier publications titled Pretesting in Health Communications and Making PSA's Work. The guide discusses specific steps in program development and includes examples of their use. Sources of additional information on each subject are included at the end of the chapters.

The tool box is designed to help managers of health communication programs improve their unit's organization and credibility while simultaneously strengthening staff members' communication skills and confidence in their ability to apply the communication methodology described in the Tool Box. This collection of practical tools includes management ideas, models, concepts, and strategies that have been field-tested under the pressures of real-life and real-time logistical barriers, challenging cultural contexts, human resources issues, and funding problems.

This book, Social Marketing Behavior, was developed as a first primer on social marketing. Its goal is to introduce you to the concept, the process and the application of social marketing to a wide range of social problems.

PSP-One End-of-Project Conference.

This document discusses PSI's social marketing and focuses on the following questions:

This document is intended to provide a clear understanding of social marketing, its key components and the role social marketing can and continues to play in preventing and slowing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

There are several different methods of Family Planning available in Kenya. People choose a method depending on their circumstances and needs. Some people may experience side effects; however most side effects will decrease over time or can be managed. All methods are highly effective if used correctly and consistently. Here is a brief description of methods available at your nearest clinic.

A guide focused on the criteria necessary to use Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) as a family planning method for breastfeeding women.

This two-page client brochure about the DMPA (or Depo) injectable provides key information that potential DMPA clients would want to know, including its effectiveness, how it works, side effects, how to use it, and who can and cannot use the method. The brochure is provided as a Word document to facilitate in-country adaptation as needed.

 Do You Know Your Family Planning Choices? replaces the old wall chart by the same name and will continue to serve as a tool to comply with a requirement of the Tiahrt Amendment.  The new wall chart contains method specific information from Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers that providers can display for their clients. 

The Key Reminders sheet covers five methods—combined oral contraceptives, monthly (combined) injectables, long-acting (progestin-only) injectables, implants, and progestin-only pills. Topics include: when to start, comparing effectiveness, medical eligibility, correcting mistakes, and managing common side effects. The information comes from Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers. The contents reflect the latest WHO guidance.

The Balanced Counseling Strategy (BCS) is a practical, interactive, client-friendly counseling strategy that uses three key job aids (visual memory aids) for counseling clients about family planning.

This chart provides a visual comparison of the effectiveness of various contraceptive methods, organized on a continuum from "less effective" to "more effective." It also provides tips on how a user can make the method more effective.

This flipchart is a decision-making aid for clients, a job-aid and reference manual for providers, and a training resource. With one page for the client and a corresponding page for providers, it has helpful pictures, key points and detailed reference information covering 14 family planning methods. It includes medical eligibility criteria, side-effects, when to start and how to use each method.