Nepal
Localized Radio health program
Activity Dates
2004-2007
Activity Summary
This project has succeeded in producing local language media, improving clinic-community relations and implementing community-level activities to reach marginalized groups, even in the midst of a conflict situation. The NFHP Radio Health Program drama serial "Knowledge is Power" and support materials were translated/adapted into Maithali and Awadhi and broadcast over regional FM stations. Trained facilitators (mostly female community health volunteers) ran non-normal education-Radio Listeners Groups (RLGs) in four districts. All of the groups integrate literacy skills through Participatory Learning and Action (PLA). Participants were drawn from the local communities with priority given to the men, women, adolescents, or in-laws most in need – illiterate or marginalized communities (i.e. Dalits or untouchables and Muslims). The group facilitators also supported participants in creating action plans for behavior change both individually and to diffuse the messages into their larger communities. In the four focus districts, PLA/RLG groups included 9,321 married women of reproductive age, of which 94% were from the marginalized Dalit and Muslim population. Among the participants, FP use increased substantially from 17 % at the time of enrollment in June 2004 to 68.45% at the end of the project in September 2006, a total increase of 52 percent. Also, the proportion of participants who could mention at least three modern FP methods increased 26% to 94% and the proportion able to mention at least three sources of FP services went from 18% to 85%.
Inequity marked by caste, language, lack of access to services, and other socioeconomic issues makes it challenging to achieve reproductive intentions in marginalized communities. In order to address these major concerns, HCP tailored the activities to the community level by adapting the radio health program into two local languages and cultures and broadcasting through new popular FM stations. The program also included building NGOs’ capacity to implement BCC activities that promote improved client-provider relations and increasing community demand for and access to services.
In order to reach intended marginalized and Muslim audience with consistent and culturally appropriate health information, an existing successful entertainment-education Drama Serial Gyan Nai Shakti Ho (Knowledge is Power) on family planning and reproductive health topics produced by Ministry of Health and Population with technical assistance from Nepal Family Health Program was adapted and localized in two languages (Maithali and Awadhi).
The localized adaptation was specifically tailored to the needs and culture of the marginalized communities. It was adapted by local writers to feature familiar characters, places and a story line that was relevant and culturally appropriate to the communities. As a result, the radio program received an overwhelming response from the disadvantaged and marginalized populations in the selected districts. An additional output of the localized versions was the pride and recognition expressed by communities in having a health drama serial in their own languages which led to wide and regular listenership. For the Muslims in Banke district, who are mostly Awadhi speaking, it is the first radio health program in their language. Interestingly, there was also a positive response from communities in Indian border towns who tuned into the program.
Similarly, support materials developed for drama serial message reinforcement were adapted taking local context and intended audience into consideration. The materials were adapted using local translators as well as the Leaner-Generated Material Approach for the comic book for the low literate and with an emphasis on characters and settings from the local culture.
Materials
Audience
Distance Education for Female Community Health Volunteers
Back to Nepal
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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