Type of Material: Technical Briefs

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Unlocking Behavioral Insights to Prevent Outbreaks through the Zoonotic Behaviors Survey

Providing a modular data collection framework, this technical brief presents the Zoonotic Behaviors Survey designed to capture critical behavioral insights around animal to human disease transmission. The survey instrument fills an essential research gap by offering adaptable tools that measure risk perception, prevention practices, and human-animal interaction patterns. Program teams and public health agencies can leverage these standardized surveys during baseline evaluations, outbreak preparedness initiatives, and routine surveillance. With real-world implementation insights from Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire, the resource demonstrates how behavioral evidence strengthens national One Health frameworks and global health security strategies.

Last modified: July 23, 2026

Language: English

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2025

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Strengthening Social Accountability to Improve Reproductive Health and Family Planning Services

Documenting programmatic experiences from West Africa, this technical brief examines how social accountability mechanisms can be integrated into community engagement strategies to enhance reproductive health and family planning services. The resource synthesizes field insights from the West Africa Breakthrough ACTION (WABA) and RISE II initiatives, demonstrating how empowering citizens and civil society organizations strengthens municipal and health governance systems. It highlights practical approaches such as client exit interviews, participatory budgeting, and rights-based information sharing to build community confidence and improve health service quality. SBC practitioners, health administrators, and civil society partners can leverage these lessons to foster transparent, community-led health governance across regional health programs.

Last modified: July 23, 2026

Language: English

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2023

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Strengthening SBC for FP in Fragile and Humanitarian Crisis Settings: Landscape Analysis and Recommendations

Addressing critical gaps in reproductive health delivery, this technical brief outlines findings and strategic recommendations from a global landscape assessment on family planning social and behavior change in fragile and humanitarian contexts. The document examines existing evidence and tools while addressing how crisis situations exacerbate barriers to voluntary contraceptive access, particularly when emergency preparedness is absent. It offers clear, actionable pathways for practitioners to integrate behavioral interventions across development, pre-crisis, and acute emergency settings. Decision makers at all levels can leverage these recommendations to prioritize family planning and build resilient behavioral strategies in crisis affected communities.

Renforcer le Changement Social et de Comportement pour la Planification Familiale dans les Contextes de Fragilité et de Crise Humanitaire

Répondant aux lacunes critiques en matière de santé reproductive, ce document technique présente les résultats et les recommandations stratégiques d’une évaluation mondiale du changement social et comportemental pour la planification familiale dans les contextes de fragilité et de crise humanitaire. Le rapport examine les preuves et outils existants tout en analysant la manière dont les situations de crise exacerbent les obstacles à l’accès à la contraception volontaire, en particulier en l’absence de préparation aux urgences. Il propose des axes d’action clairs aux praticiens pour intégrer des interventions comportementales dans les phases de développement, de pré-crise et d’urgence aiguë. Les décideurs à tous les niveaux peuvent s’appuyer sur ces recommandations pour prioriser la planification familiale et renforcer la résilience des communautés touchées par les crises.

Renforcer le CSC pour la PF dans les Contextes de Fragilité et de Crise Humanitaire [PDF]

Last modified: July 23, 2026

Language: English, French

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2024

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Senegal Rumor Management System Pilot Phase Evaluation Report

Evaluating the rollout of Senegal’s pilot Rumor Management System, this report documents strategic mechanisms designed to counteract misinformation and strengthen community trust during public health emergencies. Piloted across six districts in five regions, the system combined a digital platform, social listening protocols, and community-based rumor collection to support rapid multisectoral response. The evaluation highlights key operational successes, demonstrates the system’s relevance for epidemic preparedness, and outlines actionable recommendations to expand coverage across all 14 regions. Social and behavior change practitioners and public health officials can draw on these findings to build resilient risk communication frameworks in health crisis settings.

Rapport d’évaluation de la mise en œuvre de la phase pilote du Système de Gestion des Rumeurs (Sénégal)

Ce rapport documente la mise en œuvre et l’évaluation du système pilote de gestion des rumeurs du Sénégal, conçu pour contrer la désinformation et renforcer la confiance de la communauté lors des urgences de santé publique. Dirigé par le Comité national de gestion des épidémies du Sénégal et sa Commission de communication des risques et d’engagement communautaire, le système a été piloté dans six districts de cinq régions. Il comprend une plateforme numérique, des mécanismes d’écoute sociale, la collecte de rumeurs au niveau communautaire, ainsi que des protocoles d’analyse et de réponse multisectoriels. Breakthrough ACTION Sénégal a joué le rôle de partenaire technique et de facilitation, en soutenant la cocréation d’outils, la formation des informateurs et la coordination des processus d’évaluation au niveau national et au niveau des districts. Le projet pilote a démontré l’efficacité et la pertinence du système, tout en mettant en évidence les recommandations pour une mise à l’échelle d’ici 2024 dans les 14 régions.

Last modified: July 20, 2026

Language: English, French

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2024

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Proud Parents Media Campaign in Guinea

Breakthrough ACTION Guinea, in collaboration with National Health Promotion Service / Service national de promotion de la santé (SNPS), developed the “Parents Fiers” mass media campaign to reach young and new parents with children under five. The campaign included radio spots, interactive programs, visual materials, and social media. A survey conducted three months later showed that 75% of participants recalled the campaign messages, with 87% planning to vaccinate their children and 71% intending to use family planning.

Campagne médiatique parents fiers en Guinée

Breakthrough ACTION Guinea, en collaboration avec Service national de promotion de la santé (SNPS), a développé la campagne médiatique « Parents Fiers » pour atteindre les jeunes et nouveaux parents ayant des enfants de moins de cinq ans. La campagne comprenait des spots radio, des programmes interactifs, des supports visuels et des médias sociaux. Une enquête menée trois mois plus tard a montré que 75 % des participants se souvenaient des messages de la campagne, 87 % d’entre eux prévoyant de faire vacciner leurs enfants et 71 % ayant l’intention d’utiliser le planning familial.

Des spots radio et des programmes radiophoniques interactifs [Vidéo]

Bannière d’espacement des naissances

Bannière de vaccination des enfants

Bannière des services intégrés

Bannière sur l’allaitement des enfants – Graphique 1

Bannière sur l’allaitement des enfants – Graphique 2

Bannière sur l’allaitement des enfants – Graphique 3

Last modified: July 20, 2026

Language: English, French

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2021

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Engaging Parents in Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs for Very Young Adolescents in the DRC - Cover Image
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Engaging Parents in Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs for Very Young Adolescents in the DRC

This technical document outlines key insights from a human-centered design process focused on engaging parents and caregivers in very young adolescent (VYA) reproductive health programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Recognizing that parent-child communication is a primary determinant of adolescent well-being, the resource offers actionable guidance for creating supportive household environments. It highlights three strategic programmatic implications: investing in joint family-community activities to address gender norms, exploring game-based behavioral solutions, and integrating interventions into existing community health platforms. Ultimately, this framework helps practitioners design culturally rooted, multi-level interventions that effectively shift deep-seated social and normative barriers.

Engagement des parents dans la santé sexuelle et reproductive : Programmes pour les très jeunes adolescents en République démocratique du Congo

Produit par Breakthrough ACTION, ce document technique présente les principales conclusions d’un processus de conception centrée sur l’humain axé sur l’engagement des parents et des tuteurs dans les programmes de santé reproductive des très jeunes adolescents (TJA) en République Démocratique du Congo. Reconnaissant que la communication parent-enfant est un déterminant majeur du bien-être des adolescents, cette ressource offre des orientations concrètes pour créer des environnements familiaux favorables. Elle met en lumière trois implications programmatiques stratégiques : investir dans des activités conjointes familles-communautés pour aborder les normes de genre, explorer des solutions basées sur le jeu, et intégrer les interventions dans les plateformes et organisations de santé communautaires existantes. En fin de compte, ce cadre aide les praticiens à concevoir des interventions culturellement ancrées et multi-niveaux pour faire évoluer efficacement les barrières sociales et normatives profondément enracinées.

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Last modified: July 12, 2026

Language: English, French

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2021

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Family Planning Norms Taxonomy: Categories and Sub-Categories
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Family Planning Norms Taxonomy: Categories and Sub-Categories

Developed by Breakthrough ACTION, this technical resource provides a clear classification system for organizing and labeling social norms that impact family planning behaviors. The framework was created following an extensive evidence review of reproductive health interventions across the nine francophone West African countries of the Ouagadougou Partnership. By clustering similar normative drivers into distinct categories and sub-categories, the taxonomy helps practitioners systematically analyze complex behavioral barriers. Ultimately, this structural tool allows public health actors to better understand, discuss, and design strategic interventions targeting deeply rooted social norms.

Taxonomie des normes sociales impactant la planification familiale dans les pays du Partenariat de Ouagadougou

Développée par Breakthrough ACTION, cette ressource technique fournit un système de classification clair pour organiser et identifier les normes sociales qui impactent la planification familiale. Ce cadre a été créé à la suite d’une analyse approfondie des interventions de santé reproductive menées dans les neuf pays francophones d’Afrique de l’Ouest du Partenariat de Ouagadougou. En regroupant les facteurs normatifs similaires en catégories et sous-catégories distinctes, la taxonomie aide les praticiens à analyser systématiquement les barrières comportementales complexes. En fin de compte, cet outil structurel permet aux acteurs de la santé publique de mieux comprendre, d’aborder et de concevoir des interventions stratégiques ciblant les normes sociales profondément ancrées.

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Last modified: June 23, 2026

Language: English, French

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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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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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