The Drum Beat 828 - Sharing Your Work on The CI Platform

• 1.Gender Analysis of Barriers to Immunization in Afghanistan: A Desk Review
  by Abha Shri Saxena
• Commissioned by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)'s Regional Office for South Asia, this report provides key findings on gender barriers to immunisation in Afghanistan to inform programmatic decisions. The analysis shows that gendered barriers exist at multiple levels and impact both demand and supply. With due recognition of the challenging operating environment in Afghanistan, the report offers recommendations to advance immunisation coverage in the country through gender-transformative programming. [Aug 2023] - with thanks to Eman Eltigani for sharing
   
• 2.National and International Programmatic Perspective on Facilitators and Barriers for Sudan's Health Sector Response on Female Genital Mutilation (2016-2018): A Qualitative Study
  by Wisal Ahmed, Amira Adam, Nancy Puttkammer, Stephen Gloyd, and Carey Farquhar
• The Sudan Free From Female Genital Cutting (SFFGC) programme is multisectoral and focuses on midwives, as they are the main driving force in female genital mutilation (FGM) medicalisation in Sudan. Between 2016 and 2018, Sudan had significant achievements in the health component of SFFGC programme, prompting this study. Among the many activities: Medical students engaged their peers through the SCORAtalk, akin to "TEDx talks", which were set up to relay FGM-related messages in art forms such as music, plays, and poetry. Respondents identified various facilitators (e.g., championing and advocacy on the part of international non-governmental and governmental agencies) and barriers (e.g., the external design of activities lacking contextual understanding) - consideration of which might help shape future SFFGC work. [Jun 2023] - with thanks to Wisal Ahmed for sharing
   
• 3.Introduction of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) in Nepal: Role of the Vaccination Campaign in Identifying and Reaching Zero-Dose Children
• Zero-dose (ZD) and under-immunised children are clustered in marginalised communities across Nepal. In April 2022, the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) was included in the country's routine immunisation programme. From the Gavi Zero-Dose Learning Hub, this case study explores the strategies used in leveraging the 2022 TCV campaign to reach ZD children in Nepal and to further link them to the routine immunisation system, with the goal of reaching full immunisation. Practitioners working to reach ZD children and missed communities can use the findings from this case study, which explores facilitators such as immunisation invitation cards that made the community feel valued, to inform their own outreach efforts. [Jul 2023] - with thanks to Jessica Holli for sharing
   
• 4.Providers' Views on Hormonal Family Planning Methods for Young Women: A Qualitative Study from Dosso, Niger
  by Amelia Maytan-Joneydi, Ellen W. MacLachlan, and Balki Ibrahim Agali, et al.
• Family planning (FP) use is not common in Niger, and modern contraceptive use there is primarily characterised by implants, injectables, and pills. FP providers play an integral role in supporting women's access to an expanded method choice and are often considered trusted sources of knowledge for FP. This qualitative study explores providers' views on these hormonal FP methods and why they think young women may choose these methods in Niger. Many providers believed discretion to be the most important method attribute for women. In a predominately Muslim society like Niger, where early marriage is common, and FP is not normative, FP use is something women like to keep private. Providers believed that women find pills to be indiscreet. [Oct 2022] - with thanks to Ilene Speizer for sharing
   

• 5.Impact of Universal Home Visits on Child Health in Bauchi State, Nigeria: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
  by Khalid Omer, Altine Joga, and Umar Dutse, et al.
• In Bauchi State, Nigeria, a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) tested the health impacts of universal home visits to pregnant women and their spouses. This article focuses on the impact of these visits on early child health. Intervention children were less likely to have suffered diarrhoea in the last 15 days; the proportion of children with recent diarrhoea in the intervention group was about half that in the control group (17% vs. 34%). [Oct 2021] - with CI thanks to Anne Cockcroft for sharing
   
• 6.Predictors of Quitting Attempts Among Tobacco Users in Bangladesh After a Communication Campaign to Launch Graphic Warning Labels on Packaging
  by Tahir Turk, Fiona Newton, Sohel Choudhury, and Md. Shafiqul Islam
• This study examines the determinants of tobacco-related quit attempts among Bangladeshis with and without awareness of the synergised "People Behind the Packs" (PBTP) social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) campaign implemented by the government to support the introduction of pack-based graphic warning labels in 2016. Quitting attempts were reported by 38.1% of the overall study sample. This figure rose to 66.5% among those aware of one or more PBTP communication message. The strongest association between PBTP campaign-related variables and quitting attempts was in relation to discussion of the PBTP campaign messages with others. [Jun 2018] - with thanks to Tahir Turk for sharing
   
• 7.Intensified Nutrition Interventions in Antenatal Care Services Increased Consumption of Iron and Folic Acid Supplements and Early Breastfeeding Practices in Burkina Faso: Results of a Cluster-Randomized Program Evaluation
  by Sunny S Kim, Rock R. Zagré, and Césaire T. Ouédraogo, et al.
• In Burkina Faso, Alive & Thrive and partners worked to strengthen the provision of iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation and interpersonal counseling on maternal nutrition and breastfeeding through antenatal care services and community-based contacts in 2 regions. Improvements were achieved in exposure to nutrition counseling on dietary diversity (difference-in-difference (DID): 44.4 percentage points, or pp), food quantity (DID: 42.9 pp), adequate weight gain (DID: 35.1 pp), and breastfeeding (DID: 25.9 pp). Women in intervention areas consumed more IFA supplements during pregnancy (DID: 21 tablets). Early initiation of and exclusive breastfeeding also improved (DID: 17.0 and 8.3 pp, respectively). [Jun 2023] - with thanks to Tina Sanghvi for sharing
   

• Please reach out to us at kdevries@comminit.com at any time to tell us about your work!

• 8.Rope Guna Fal Radio Serial Drama
  Rope Guna Fal ("You Reap What You Sow") is a Nepalese radio drama series addressing social, behavioural, and normative change across 3 broad objectives: strengthening parenting skills to improve child well-being, eliminating child marriage, and improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health. These themes were carefully selected based on clear local needs. Within the entertainment-education framework, this initiative drew on the power of storytelling. According to organisers, the series was able to help the audience prepare for action and take action and become local, regional, and national change makers. - with thanks to Rajan Parajuli for sharing
   
• 9.Sahiyo Stories/Voices to End FGM/C
  More and more people are taking the risk of speaking out against female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), which is a form of gender-based violence. In 2017, StoryCenter began a partnership with Sahiyo United Against Female Genital Cutting and convened a digital storytelling workshop with FGM/C survivors living in the United States. This initial pilot effort ("Sahiyo Stories") has grown into the international advocacy initiative Voices to End FGM/C, which is mobilising a critical mass of storytellers and activists from across the globe by bringing them together to share and heal from FGM/C, connect and grow as leaders, and create short videos calling for an end to this harmful practice. - with thanks to Amy Hill for sharing
   

• 10.Will the anti-homosexuality law force journalists to bend their code of ethics when covering LGBTQI stories in Uganda?
  by Vincent Kyabayinze
• "A reporter working for a local print media asked me if I would continue to cover stories of the LBGTQI+ community after parliament passed the anti-homosexuality Bill 2023 and was assented to by the president. Yes, that was my response. Lines of worry formed on her forehead, and she shook her head in disapproval....[W]ith the law gaining both local and international media attention, many journalists, including her, have ceased telling any LGBTQI story for fear of being jailed or fined on accusations or suspicious grounds that they are promoting homosexuality..." [Jun 2023] - with thanks to Vincent Kyabayinze for sharing
   
• 11.Community Owns Its Own Health Matters through Dialogue
  by Temesgen Afeta
• "..As part of the knowledge dynamic and purpose, without which no one lives on our planet, let me share what we community members have been doing on education, health, solidarity, neighborhood power and family functioning....From 2010-2012, I worked for CARE Ethiopia as Social Mobilization Coordinator on Communication for Change (C-Change) in West Shawa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. The approach used in applying C-Change in 54 local administrations and 162 villages extending for 100 km along Gibe River upper stream, one of the malaria hotspot areas in Ethiopia, was community dialogue. I learned that community owns everything through dialogue. Community dialogue is the vibrant and dynamic learning and decision making process in which all community members are equally recognized and heard..." [Sep 2023] - with thanks to Temesgen Afeta for sharing
   
• 12.Gender, social relations, and development organisations: Straddling formal and substantive equality
  by Ranjani K. Murthy
• "Development organisations attempt to change social hierarchies while reflecting them. This blog focuses on the latter: how development organisations in South Asia reflect social hierarchies, and how these hierarchies can be challenged....Looking back at several years of (the author's) facilitating change in organisations, there seem to be two approaches making development organisations gender/socially responsive (transformation is impossible as of now): formal equality and substantive equality....Development organisations can be responsive to gender and social relations only when a substantive equality approach is adopted, along with formal equality. This approach takes time and does not fit well with target-driven efficiency approaches!" [Aug 2023] - with thanks to Ranjani K. Murthy for sharing
   
• 13.Child Labour in Nigeria: Prometheus Still Bound
  by Agbeye Oburumu
• "Child labour is a pervasive problem in Nigeria that affects millions of children and perpetuates poverty and exploitation....A comprehensive approach that addresses poverty, lack of education, and cultural norms is needed to effectively combat the problem and ensure that all children in Nigeria are able to live and work in safe and dignified conditions..." [Jan 2023] - with thanks to Agbeye Oburumu for sharing
   

• 14.Videos and Outcomes Statement from the Regional Conference on Information and Communication Rights in Africa
  fesmedia Africa Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Namibia and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa in the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights hosted a regional conference on Information and Communication Rights in Africa from May 31 to June 2 2023 in Windhoek, Namibia. Videos of the proceedings are available, and the conference produced an outcomes statement that reaffirms the significance of information and communication rights in enhancing democracy, upholding human rights, and driving socio-economic development in Africa. [Jul 2023] - with thanks to Dickson Kasote for sharing
   
• 15.SBC Learning Central Platform
  Breakthrough ACTION's SBC Learning Central is designed to provide public health professionals with knowledge and skills to incorporate the spectrum of social and behaviour change (SBC) methodologies into their work. The aim is to create a critical mass of skilled SBC practitioners and supportive decision makers worldwide who use SBC approaches and best practices to design programmes that transform structures, systems of power, and community and household health practices. At its launch in early June 2023, 10 courses were made available. As of September 2023, Breakthrough ACTION had added 21 more courses, with plans to release at least 10 more courses in the subsequent year. With a focus on francophone West Africa, most of the online courses and toolkits are offered in French and English. - with thanks to Lisa Mwaikambo for sharing
   
• 16.Restoring Our Home in Nature: The Story and Practice of the African Biodiversity Network
  This Barefoot Guide shares the journey and practice of the African Biodiversity Network (ABN), which is an African network of individuals and organisations seeking African solutions to the ecological and socio-economic challenges that face the continent. Released on the occasion of ABN's 20th anniversary, the resource includes stories that highlight the practices ABN has been using to support communities to reconnect to their cultural roots and to nature and to find their resilience in the face of the climate crisis and the domination of industrial agriculture. [Sep 2023] - with thanks to Doug Reeler for sharing
   
• 17.Human Rights-Based Social and Behaviour Change (SBC): An Intro Guide
  Co-created with 10 UNICEF country offices in West and Central Africa, this short technical resource presents 10 SBC approaches to inform and inspire human-rights-based work. Human-rights-based approaches to SBC position community members as partners in creating solutions to challenges they face, while not bearing full responsibility or accountability for positive change. [Dec 2022] - with thanks to Karen Greiner for sharing
   

ENQUIRY: Your priorities, opportunities and challenges!

What kinds of challenges and opportunities infuse your communication and media development, social and behavioural change work? This survey is a chance for you to let us know! We will report back on results and trends so you can gain insights from your peers in the network.
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