Program managers rely on a variety of research methodologies and data sources for FP and MCH programs. All of these can be adapted or modified to address activities addressing AMA and HP pregnancies. For example, specific questions can be integrated into data collection tools. During analysis, data can be disaggregated by age and parity.
Specific indicators that assess the program’s effect on AMA and HP outcomes will be important to your program. Table 5 below lists suggested FP communication program variables and corresponding indicators.
Table 5: Suggested Communication Variables and Indicators
Knowledge
Variables | Indicators |
---|---|
Women at risk of AMA or HP and their partners know about the risks of AMA and HP pregnancies . |
|
Service providers have knowledge of the risks of AMA and HP pregnancies. |
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Women at risk of AMA or HP and their partners have knowledge of FP methods. |
|
Perceived Risk
Variables | Indicators |
---|---|
Women at risk of AMA or HP and their partners perceive themselves to be at risk of adverse health outcomes from AMA or HP pregnancies. |
|
Beliefs
Variables | Indicators |
---|---|
Spacing and limiting pregnancies for women at risk of AMA or HP helps the mother and child stay healthy. |
|
Using FP will help a woman keep her figure and youthful looks. |
|
Using FP will help a family face economic difficulties. |
|
Attitudes
Variables | Indicators |
---|---|
Women should not have children at or after age 35. |
|
Couples agree to limit births to fewer than five per woman. |
|
Social Influences/Norms
Variables | Indicators |
---|---|
Perceived approval of FP for limiting births before a woman is 35 or before parity five. |
|
Perceived use of FP for limiting births before age 35 or before parity five. |
|
Interpersonal Communication
Variables | Indicators |
---|---|
Women at risk of AMA or HP have ever discussed FP with partner. |
|
Women at risk of AMA or HP discussed FP with someone in past six months. |
|
Women at risk of AMA or HP discussed FP with a health worker in past six months. |
|
Behaviors
Variables | Indicators |
---|---|
Women at risk of AMA or HP using a modern FP method. |
|
Service providers counsel women at risk of AMA or HP and male partners on risks. |
|
Resources
For step-by-step guidance on developing a monitoring and evaluation plan, please see the HC3 guide How-to Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
For more information on developing indicators, please see the HC3 guide How to Develop Monitoring Indicators.
Closing Thoughts
Focusing part of your SBCC effort on reducing AMA and HP pregnancy can be a novel way to help women, their partners and their communities find value in modern contraception. It can be a way to break down barriers and begin a fruitful dialogue on improving family health and welfare by making conscious decisions about the number and timing of pregnancies. In developing and implementing your SBCC strategy, remember to make sure that:
- The motivations and concerns of both primary and important influencing audiences are taken into account
- All statistics used are relevant to your audience and environment and are up to date
- Images or photographs will be understood and recognized by your audiences (by pretesting them before printing)
- Addressing difficult topics (such as limiting births) is balanced with providing information that is important and relevant to your audiences
- Culture and religion are respected
- Messages are consistent and credible
- Language is appropriate for your audiences
- A variety of complementary communication approaches are used
We wish you the best in this effort and, as mentioned earlier, we invite you to share your tools and experiences on Springboard or on the Health COMpass!
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