"Many people recognise that mass media is important in promoting public health but there have been few attempts to measure how important. An ongoing trial in Burkina Faso (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01517230) is an attempt to bring together the very different worlds of mass media and epidemiology: to me
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asure rigorously, using a cluster-randomised design, how many lives mass media can save in a low-income country, and at what cost. Application of the Lives Saved Tool predicts that saturation-based media campaigns could reduce child mortality by 10–20%, at a cost per disability-adjusted life-year that is as low as any existing health intervention. In this Viewpoint we explain the scientific reasoning behind the trial, while stressing the importance of the media methodology used." (Abstract)
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"This article summarizes evidence for technological advances associated with population-level behavior changes necessary to advance child survival and healthy development in children under 5 years of age in low- and middle-income countries. After a rigorous evidence selection process, the authors as
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sessed science, technology, and innovation papers that used mHealth, social-transmedia, multiplatform media, health literacy, and devices for behavior changes supporting child survival and development. Because of an insufficient number of studies on health literacy and devices that supported causal attribution of interventions to outcomes, the review focused on mHealth, social-transmedia, and multiplatform media. Overall, this review found that some mHealth interventions have sufficient evidence to make topic-specific recommendations for broader implementation, scaling, and next research steps (e.g., adherence to HIV-AIDS antiretroviral therapy, uptake and demand of maternal health service, and compliance with malaria treatment guidelines). While some media evidence demonstrates effectiveness in changing cognitive abilities, knowledge, and attitudes, evidence is minimal on behavioral endpoints linked to child survival." (Abstract)
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"Through a systematic review of the literature, this article summarizes and evaluates evidence for the effectiveness of mass media interventions for child survival. To be included, studies had to describe a mass media intervention; address a child survival health topic; present quantitative data fro
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m a low- or middle-income country; use an evaluation design that compared outcomes using pre- and postintervention data, treatment versus comparison groups, or postintervention data across levels of exposure; and report a behavioral or health outcome. The 111 campaign evaluations that met the inclusion criteria included 15 diarrheal disease, 8 immunization, 2 malaria, 14 nutrition, 1 preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, 4 respiratory disease, and 67 reproductive health interventions. These evaluations were then sorted into weak (n=33), moderate (n=32), and stronger evaluations (n=46) on the basis of the sampling method, the evaluation design, and efforts to address threats to inference of mass media effects. The moderate and stronger evaluations provide evidence that mass media-centric campaigns can positively impact a wide range of child survival health behaviors." (Abstract)
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"Behaviour change communication is vital for increasing the enactment of particular behaviours known to promote health and growth. The techniques used to change behaviour are important for determining how successful the intervention is. In order to integrate findings from different interventions, we
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need to define and organize the techniques previously used and connect them to effectiveness data. This paper reviews 24 interventions and programs implemented to change four health behaviours related to child health in developing countries: the use of bed nets, hand washing, face washing and complementary feeding. The techniques employed are organized under six categories: information, performance, problem solving, social support, materials, and media. The most successful interventions use three or even four categories of techniques, engaging participants at the behavioural, social, sensory, and cognitive levels. We discuss the link between techniques and theories. We propose that program development would be more systematic if researchers considered a menu of technique categories appropriate for the targeted behaviour and audience when designing their studies." (Abstract)
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"This report makes a case for revitalizing investments in communication for immunization. It considers communication in a broad sense, including advocacy, social and community mobilization, and information, education, and communication (IEC) activities. It identifies communication challenges that af
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fect the success of immunization services; offers evidence of the contributions of communication activities; identifies lessons learned, and suggests ways in which communication can continue to strengthen immunization programs. Without well-planned, adequately funded strategic communication, immunization programs fall short of meeting and sustaining coverage goals. Communication is particularly needed to achieve vaccination coverage in hard-toreach populations and to build trust in vaccines among those who question them. Stakeholders also need to advocate for immunization programs to persuade governments, donors, and other actors to support vaccine programs vis-á-vis other health programs and priorities." (Page 2)
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"The Uganda Nutrition and Early Childhood Development Project was one of DevComm’s first projects to demonstrate the value-added of strategic communication. The strategic communication component developed for this project included the use of formative research about values and attitudes with respe
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ct to child rearing, in order to develop and test effective messages. The communication strategy was developed in a highly participatory manner and included nurturing a team of champions for the project among policymakers, district officials, community leaders, and grassroots organizations to advocate for the project. It also included two-way communication activities developed to address the practices and behaviors that would need to be changed in order for the project to be successful, rather than merely disseminating messages based on assumptions of project benefits." (Back cover)
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"Este manual, dirigido a periodistas y medios masivos de comunicación de América Latina y el Caribe, tiene O como propósito el apoyarles en su esfuerzo por incorporar información sobre la salud en su rutina periodística. El manual ha sido concebido como un documento de referencia y una herramie
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nta de apoyo al trabajo de los periodistas vinculados a diversos medios de comunicación (radio, prensa y televisión) de la región, quienes regularmente cubren temas relacionados con la salud infantil, El manual contiene información útil y práctica sobre diversos temas como Maternidad; Nutrición; Crecimiento y Desarrollo Emocional, y Desarrollo de la Inteligencia y Desarrollo Emocional y Social, entre otros temas, con el fin de promover la crianza y desarrollo de niños saludables." (Introducción)
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"This book presents practical lessons from 15 years of experience on the part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in promoting the health of infants and children in developing countries. It has been compiled by the Academy for Education Development which conducts the Communicati
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on for Child Survival or HEALTHCOM project for USAID. The book is a collection of 24 case studies and anecdotes produced by developing country and U.S. programme implementors in confronting the challenges of diarrhoeal dehydration, vaccine-preventable diseases, acute respiratory infection, malaria and inadequate nutrition. It illustrates different aspects of a systematic approach to influencing behaviour among the family, the community, and the health care provider. The examples demonstrate the importance of balancing demand creation activities with service delivery support, and the need for advocacy at the highest leadership levels. The field notes are divided into six categories: 1) research: the foundation of decisions; 2) strategies for behaviour change; 3) designing effective materials; 4) principles and tools for training; 5) new policies, new products, new markets; and 6) management for the long term." (https://www.ircwash.org/resources)
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"This book provided the best synthesis of social marketing and social mobilization theory and practice in international development, as it stood in the 1990s. At the time it was written, no other source provided such a comprehensive review backed-up by extremely useful bibliographies as well as proj
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ect data from major development sectors - health, population, nutrition, AIDS prevention, etc. It is of broad interest to various categories of readers: aid agency officials, frontline communication/development planners and particularly academics seeking a "real-world" summary of experiences in specialized seminars and training programs." (https://www.goodreads.com)
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