Using an FP social media platform for COVID-19 vaccine promotion in the Philippines: Supporting Department of Health’s National Vaccination Days #BayanihanBakunahan

USAID Philippines’  ReachHealth team has several robust social media platforms that reach specific audience segments with family planning messages. USAID’s Breakthrough ACTION COVID Vaccine project worked with ReachHealth to jointly produce and post social media cards promoting the Department of Health’s National Vaccine Days (NVD) from November 29-December 01, 2021 and December 15-17, 2021. 

The social media cards were posted on  platforms such as It’s Okay To Delay, which caters to young adults, and Konektado Tayo, for parents of teens, who are eligible to get vaccinated in the country. Teens got their own messages on the DOH’s platform for teens, I Choose.

In a little over a week, these platforms reached more than 3 million people — a solid accomplishment given that the messages were focused on reaching rural and peri-urban areas with low vaccine coverage and not major urban cities like Metro Manila. The posts encouraged vaccination and also answered key questions about family planning and vaccination. 

Working with the DOH in the Philippines, USAID’s Breakthrough ACTION and ReachHealth projects helped raise public awareness through this vaccine promotion initiative. More than 9.9 million people were vaccinated during the National Vaccination Days, helping the government  to fully vaccinate more than 50 million Filipinos by the start of 2022.

Source: Using an FP social media platform for COVID-19 vaccine promotion in the Philippines: Supporting Department of Health’s National Vaccination Days #BayanihanBakunahan

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    Confiance Totale PSAs

    In 2020, Breakthrough ACTION created the Confiance Totale brand and logo to generate trust in and demand for FP methods and services among women of reproductive age in ILN catchment areas.

    Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, WABA developed several Confiance Totale materials in collaboration with service delivery partner Amplify-FP and Ministries of Health. The campaign materials include IUD, injectable, oral contraceptive pill, implant, Standard Days, emergency contraception, and all-methods leaflets and two radio public service announcements (PSAs) in French and local languages that promote having confidence in the safety and efficacy of FP and in health centers and healthcare providers.

    Anticipating limited FP service and method access during COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders, and subsequent potential complications tied to unplanned pregnancies and overcrowded and under-stocked health facilities, the WABA team pivoted its Confiance Totale mass media activities at the end of Q2 by drafting scripts for new radio spots. The new PSAs feature adapted calls to action, including:

    • Using this time at home together to discuss birth spacing with your partner
    • Continuing to use FP successfully without going to the health center by using call-in numbers
    • Ensuring you have FP method supplies while sheltering in place and/or during government restrictions on movement to avoid an unwanted pregnancy
    • Using exclusive breastfeeding to avoid unwanted pregnancy (for new moms)
    • Discussing postpartum family planning before going into labor
    • Using a mask and other COVID-19 risk reduction behaviors when going to the health center or pharmacy for FP methods

    Source: Confiance Totale PSAs

      Views 673

      Why the Promotion of Family Planning Makes More Sense Now Than Ever Before?

      This article analyses the possible consequences of the pandemic on the rights of individuals and couples and endeavours to provide justifications for continued national commitment and investments in family planning.

      As sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights are fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the author states that it is critical to focus on ensuring rights-based family planning, because it is intimately associated with fundamental human rights, addresses the issue of equity, equality and universality and provides valid and practical solutions to the vital economic quagmire that has unfolded as a consequence of this global crisis.

      Source: Why the Promotion of Family Planning Makes More Sense Now Than Ever Before?

        Views 576

        Accélération de l’offre de l’auto-prise en charge au temps de COVID-19 : Ce que cela signifie pour aujourd’hui et pour l’avenir.

        Ce que cela signifie pour aujourd’hui et pour l’avenir.​ Cet article, co-écrit par des partenaires du PSI et de Jhpiego, explore la question importante de l’offre de l’auto-prise en charge dans le contexte de la pandémie COVID-19. (Lisez l’article en anglais.)

        Source: Accélération de l’offre de l’auto-prise en charge au temps de COVID-19 : Ce que cela signifie pour aujourd’hui et pour l’avenir.

          Views 806

          Monitoring COVID-19’s Effects on Family Planning: What Should We Measure?

          As health care systems are stretched to capacity dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are worried that delivery of essential health services—including family planning—is being severely compromised. On the supply side, we may be able to monitor availability of family counselors and contraceptives to meet needs. But what of the demand side? How can we monitor shifts in women’s family planning needs and preferences in light of the social and economic shocks they are facing due to the pandemic?

          Source: Monitoring COVID-19’s Effects on Family Planning: What Should We Measure?

            Views 614

            Insights from COVID-19 Youth Task Force

            This article provides insights from the COVID-19 Youth Task Force on sustaining access to voluntary contraception and reproductive health information and care by youth in East Africa during the pandemic. Youth and adolescents need special consideration—while they are sometimes neglected, they increasingly make up a bulk of the population. This article articulates the important role of decision makers and technical advisors in enhancing access to voluntary reproductive health care by youth during COVID-19.

            Source: Insights from COVID-19 Youth Task Force

              Views 537

              14 Actions You Can Take Today to Adapt Your Program for COVID-19

              This interactive collection from Knowledge SUCCESS synthesizes the major COVID-19 global guidelines and guidance documents into 14 concrete actions that programs can take today to ensure continued voluntary family planning and reproductive health care. Each action links to related resources to help you get started. Features resources from WHO, Breakthrough ACTION, FIGO, HIPs, RHSC, AFP, and others.

              Source: 14 Actions You Can Take Today to Adapt Your Program for COVID-19

                Views 679

                Early Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the 2020 Guttmacher Survey of Reproductive Health Experiences

                This report provides an initial look at newly collected data on the emerging impact of the pandemic on women’s sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and reproductive autonomy in the United States.

                It focuses on the following indicators:

                • Childbearing preferences
                • Contraceptive use
                • Access to contraception and other SRH services
                • Telemedicine for contraceptive care
                • Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV)

                The authors conclude that even in the short period covered by our survey, the COVID-19 pandemic has already had an impact on women’s sexual and reproductive lives. It has affected their ability to obtain needed SRH care and contraceptive services, raised their concerns about affording and accessing this care and shifted their fertility preferences. These effects have not been evenly distributed and tend to be felt by groups bearing the brunt of existing inequities. In this way, the pandemic has illuminated systemic failings that perpetuate health and social disparities.

                Source: Early Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the 2020 Guttmacher Survey of Reproductive Health Experiences

                  Views 910

                  Creating a Real-Time Rumor Management System: Technical Brief

                  This document includes important considerations and resources to support country programs in creating a functional rumor management system, enabling two-way communication with affected communities. It also includes guidance on obtaining feedback from communities on their beliefs (including rumors, misinformation, and disinformation), disseminating accurate information, and monitoring these approaches. Implementing this system while maintaining physical distancing is particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

                  Source: Creating a Real-Time Rumor Management System: Technical Brief

                    Views 659