Honduras
Implementing BCC interventions for maternal and child health
Activity Dates
2005-2007
Activity Summary
This activity began with the evaluation of previous MOH Communication Campaigns first launched in 2000. Results were used to design a new intervention, launched under HCP in March 2007. The high-level event was lead by Mrs Xiomara de Zelaya, First Lady of Honduras. This new multi-media campaign consisted of a magazine-style radio program called Para cuidarte, mi vida (Taking care of my life) with supporting radio spots as well as printed materials including a Family Health Booklet, 8 family planning brochures, two flipcharts and five posters.
The Honduras Secretariat of Health, with the support of USAID and technical assistance from Population Communication Services and Basics II, implemented two national communication campaigns in 2000. The Maternal Health Campaign aimed to reduce maternal mortality by focusing on pre- and postnatal care, safe delivery, and family planning. The Child Health Campaign aimed to reduce mortality, morbidity, and malnutrition among children under 5 by focusing on feeding, respiratory infections, diarrhea, and hygiene. Both campaigns developed materials for health providers and pregnant women and mothers of children under five. The materials consisted of two mini-radio dramas and printed materials that included posters, a flipchart to be used by health-providers, and brochures or reminder sheets to be given to women. The impact of these two campaigns was not evaluated after they were implemented. USAID/Honduras and the Ministry of Health decided to re-implement both campaigns nationally between November 2004 and April 2005 and asked HCP to evaluate them. The evaluation took place in five Departments with high levels of maternal and child mortality: Intibuca, La Paz, Comayagua, Atlantida, and Colon. Evaluation results were available October 2005 and were used to develop the agenda for a series of workshops to strengthen the BCC program design skills of MOH staff from the Maternal and Child Health Department. During these workshops, participants drew up guidelines and by December 2005 designed a strategic communication intervention to reduce maternal and child mortality.
With this background, the HCP program in Honduras and SSH staff from the Maternal and Health, focused on maternal and child health key behaviors that would have the greatest impact in reducing maternal and infant mortality. This team designed a communication strategy, as part of a new multi-sector effort at the national level, to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Honduras. The multi-media communication strategy was approved in July 2006 and the campaign was launched March 30, 2007, lead by Mrs. Xiomara de Zelaya, First Lady of Honduras.
HCP assisted in the development of a set of print and radio communication materials to improve client-provider interaction at the point of service, and promotion and prevention at the community level. Campaign materials include a series of radio spots and a daily 15-minute radio program Para Cuidarte mi Vida (Taking care of my life). Distribution of printed materials that include family planning brochures, posters, flipcharts and a family health booklet was completed in May 2007.
A series of workshops designed to teach trainers how to insure effective use of the materials by health workers and community volunteers took place February to April 2007. Through supervision and monitoring, follow-up will continue to boost program impact.
Audiences
The multi-media campaign identified rural and semi-urban men and women who seek services from the Secretariat of Health as the primary audience. The campaign seeks to improve their knowledge, attitudes and practice of specific health behaviors that focus on maternal and infant mortality reduction and to generate demand for services that reduce maternal and infant mortality. The secondary audience is the SOH health providers.
Materials/Tools
- 8 Brochures about FP
- 2 Flipcharts
- One "Healthy Family Booklet"
- 5 FP Posters
- 60 Radio Programs, 15 minutes each, Para Cuidarte mi Vida
Research
- Resultados de la Evaluación de las Campanas de Salud Materno Infantil, Honduras 2005 Ana Claudia Franca-Koh, Ph D.
- Estrategia de Comunicación de Salud Materna e Infantil y Planificación Familiar SECRETARÍA DE SALUD, sub secretaria de riesgos poblacionales, Departamento de Atención Integral a la Familia, Health Communication Partnership. Componente SMI-PF, QAP/USAID
Partners
SOH/Maternal and Child Health Department
Back to Honduras
Note about materials: Some of the materials and resources listed on each page are available in their full form, others are represented by image or citation only. For more information and resources, go to www.jhuccp.org
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