Type of Material: Guidance Documents

Haut Katanga Integrated Provincial Communication Plan for Social and Behavior Change
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Haut Katanga Integrated Provincial Communication Plan for Social and Behavior Change

Developed in partnership with the Haut Katanga Provincial Health Division in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), this multi-year strategic document establishes a unified blueprint for social and behavior change (SBC) initiatives. The plan is strictly aligned with the DRC’s National Health Development Plan and anchored within institutional community participation strategies to optimize localized health delivery. In the shifting context of provincial decentralization, it provides clear operational guidelines designed to coordinate the communication efforts of all field-level health partners and stakeholders. Ultimately, the framework aims to bridge the gap between provincial health authorities and communities to ensure that healthcare interventions are highly effective, relevant, and supportive of public well-being.

Plan provincial intégré de communication pour le changement social et de comportement, Province du Haut Katanga, 2024–2028

Développé en partenariat avec la Division Provinciale de la Santé du Haut-Katanga en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), ce document stratégique pluriannuel établit un cadre unifié pour les initiatives de changement social et comportemental (SBC). Le plan est aligné sur le Plan National de Développement Sanitaire de la RDC et ancré dans les stratégies institutionnelles de participation communautaire pour optimiser les prestations de santé locales. Dans le contexte de la décentralisation provinciale, il fournit des lignes directrices opérationnelles claires conçues pour coordonner les efforts de communication de tous les partenaires et acteurs de la santé sur le terrain. En fin de compte, ce cadre vise à combler le fossé entre les autorités sanitaires provinciales et les communautés afin de garantir des interventions de santé efficaces, pertinentes et adaptées au bien-être de la population.

Last modified: June 23, 2026

Language: French

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2023

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Supporting Sexual and Reproductive SelfCare through Social and Behavior Change: A Conceptual Framework
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Supporting Sexual and Reproductive SelfCare through Social and Behavior Change: A Conceptual Framework

This conceptual framework explores sexual and reproductive health (SRH) self-care through a social and behavioral lens, demonstrating how social and behavior change (SBC) approaches can optimize self-care initiatives. Drawing from the stages of change and socio-ecological models, the framework illustrates an individual’s person-centered behavioral journey from awareness to behavior championing. It helps policymakers, donors, and implementers identify the critical individual, household, community, and health system factors that facilitate or hinder self-care adoption. By addressing normative, attitudinal, and structural drivers, this resource provides actionable insights to create an enabling environment for scaled-up SRH self-care practices.

Last modified: June 23, 2026

Language: English

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2021

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Using SBC to Strengthen Self Care for SRH
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Using Social and Behavior Change to Strengthen Self-Care for Sexual and Reproductive Health – A Technical Brief

This technical brief outlines how social and behavior change (SBC) approaches can be utilized to advance self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Acknowledging that self-care is heavily influenced by individual, interpersonal, social, and structural factors, the brief provides practitioners with actionable strategies to navigate core programmatic hurdles. It explicitly addresses key implementation challenges, including understanding user needs, engaging healthcare providers, cultivating community support, and defining quality in crowded markets. This resource serves as a practical companion piece to the overarching SBC self-care conceptual framework.

Last modified: June 23, 2026

Language: English

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2023

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Sawa Le Baad - Together for Each Other
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Sawa Le Baad – Together for Each Other: An Integrated Social and Behavior Change Strategy for Family Planning and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Developed by Breakthrough ACTION South Sudan, the Sawa Le Baad (Together for Each Other) strategy provides a comprehensive blueprint for integrated social and behavior change (SBC) interventions. The strategy aims to significantly reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality by increasing demand for family planning, boosting timely health-seeking behaviors, and addressing provider bias. Grounded in evidence, it utilizes an adapted version of the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs’ Pathways™ model to build a more supportive community environment. This framework guides practitioners in promoting equitable gender norms, community dialogue, and improved experiences at health facilities.

Together we are planning our family.

Last modified: June 23, 2026

Language: English

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2022

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Building Trust and Empathy with Young Mothers in Nutrition Programming
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Building Trust and Empathy with Young Mothers in Nutrition Programming

This technical brief synthesizes findings from a literature review and virtual consultation on how to cultivate trust and empathy between healthcare providers and young mothers in nutrition programming. Grounded in insights from Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, it highlights how active listening and empathetic counseling counteract the moral judgment and limited agency often experienced by young mothers. The resource offers actionable recommendations for facility, community, and stakeholder levels to improve provider-client interactions. Ultimately, these trust-building approaches aim to strengthen health systems and maximize positive nutritional outcomes for young mothers and their children.

Last modified: June 21, 2026

Language: English

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2024

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Applying Social and Behavior Change Approaches to Improve Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Delivery A Technical Brief
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Applying Social and Behavior Change Approaches to Improve Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Delivery – A Technical Brief

This technical brief shares evidence and lessons learned from Breakthrough ACTION’s social and behavior change (SBC) activities focused on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service delivery. Utilizing data from project monitoring and evaluation, it offers actionable recommendations for implementing public sector SBC programming. The brief highlights how SBC approaches can be applied across the entire service continuum using the Circle of Care Model©. This resource is designed to help practitioners optimize client motivation, enhance provider-client interactions, and improve long-term service adherence.

Last modified: June 21, 2026

Language: English

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: June 2023

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SBC Related Resources
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Malaria Social and Behavior Change Toolkit for Community Health Workers

This collection of resources from the RBM Partnership to End Malaria focuses on Malaria Social and Behavior Change (SBC) strategies, programs, and communications. It includes comprehensive guides, templates, and strategic frameworks designed to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of national malaria SBC initiatives. Additionally, the repository features specialized toolkits for community health workers, monitoring and evaluation guidelines, and policy recommendations for specific contexts like COVID-19 and Anopheles stephensi. Most of these essential materials are available in English, French, and Portuguese to support global malaria control efforts.

Last modified: June 21, 2026

Language: English, French, Portuguese

Source: RBM Partnership to End Malaria

Year of Publication: 2018-2025

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Intentionally Incorporating the Social Determinants of Health into Social and Behavior Change Programming for Family Planning

The field of social and behavior change (SBC) recognizes that factors beyond the biomedical model of health affect health and well-being at individual, household, community, and societal levels. However, to date, SBC interventions in family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) have primarily focused on identifying and shifting behaviors in individuals, groups, and communities; therefore, SBC programs too often overlook the root causes of health disparities related to FP/RH and how SBC approaches can and should be used to address them.

The purposes of this brief are to:

  1. Synthesize what is known about addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH) inequities in FP/RH.
  2. Propose considerations for future SBC programmingto address the SDOH inequities in FP/RH based on the existing evidence.
  3. Identify implementation research gaps that should be explored to support the use of SBC to address inequities in FP/RH that result from the SDOH.

This document provides evidence to guide strategic decision-making among donors and governments in support of SBC initiatives to reduce inequities in FP/RH. Though the brief focuses on examples from the field of FP/RH, its content is broadly applicable to SBC across all health and development areas. Breakthrough ACTION developed this brief alongside a programmatic tool with practical guidance for SBC practitioners. This resource contributes to work under the “supporting social change in family planning” priority in the Global Shared Agenda for SBC in Family Planning.

ENGLISH

Intentionally Incorporating the Social Determinants of Health into SBC Programming for FP [PDF]

EN FRANÇAIS

Intégrer délibérément les déterminants sociaux de la santé dans les programmes de CSC dans le domaine de la PF [PDF]

Last modified: March 18, 2026

Language: English

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Social and Behavior Change Guidance for Anopheles stephensi in Africa

Anopheles stephensi, a dominant malaria vector in south Asia and Arabian Peninsula, has been identified by researchers in Africa in recent years, and has the potential to threaten malaria control and elimination efforts. Social and behavior change will play a critical role in the response to this growing threat. This document provides evidence-based guidance on individual, household, and community level behaviors for potential support of An. stephensi mitigation and control interventions in Africa.

Last modified: March 18, 2026

Language: English

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Elevating Social and Behavior Change as an Essential Component of Family Planning Programs

Citing “no product, no program,” family planning (FP) interventions have traditionally focused on delivering commodities. But ensuring long-term uptake means addressing behavioral and cultural attitudes and practices regarding FP. While social and behavior change (SBC) plays an essential role—backed by almost 50 years of data—it is often underutilized. In a newly-published commentary in Studies in Family Planning, USAID and Breakthrough ACTION make a clear case and a clarion call for more intentionally integrating and funding proven SBC approaches into FP programs. The data outlined in this commentary serves as a cornerstone for advocacy efforts to help increase SBC in FP programs.

Last modified: March 17, 2026

Language: English

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