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The Compass team undertakes an intensive search to identify and make available quality resources & tools for our users each month. Users are also encouraged to participate in the process by contributing materials & ideas for future packages.
[UPDATED JULY 2016] Tremendous strides have been made in the past several decades in saving the lives of mothers and children. The numbers of those dying has decreased dramatically, thanks to the tireless efforts of governments, international organizations, communities, and individual households. Yet, with all of this progress, the numbers are still unacceptably high.
[UPDATED JUNE 2016] As of February 2, 2016, the World Health Organization has declared Zika Virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Zika virus is an emerging mosquito-borne virus, transmitted via Aedes mosquitos, that was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys through a monitoring network of sylvatic yellow fever. It was subsequently identified in humans in 1952 in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.*
AIDS is now the leading cause of death among adolescents (aged 10–19) in Africa and the second most common cause of death among adolescents globally. There were 250,000 new HIV infections among adolescents in 2013, two thirds of which were among adolescent girls.
[UPDATED June 2016] Young people currently comprise a larger proportion of the world’s population than ever before, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The World Health Organization defines young people as those between ages 10 and 24, and includes in its definition the sub-groups, adolescents (ages 10 to 19) and youth (ages 15 to 24). Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy among adolescents is a worldwide public health issue, and for unplanned pregnancies among younger women, unsafe options may become the recourse.
Whether you are new to social and behaiovr change communication, or have been prcacticing SBCC for years, it is always useful to have a refresher on the basics of all phases of the SBCC process. Many Health COMpass users contact us asking for a list of "basic tools" so we are pelased to present such a list for your reference.
An estimated 246 million girls and boys are harassed and abused in and around school every year. Girls are particularly vulnerable to school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV), which often stems from deeply rooted cultural beliefs and practices, power imbalances and gender norms. SRGBV is both a violation of human rights and a serious barrier to learning and to educational attainment.[2]
[UPDATED JULY 2016] Population, health and environment (PHE) projects work to deal with the relationships between people, the environment, and public health. In integrating those subjects, the goals are to improve health, encourage communities to engage in sustainable practices, and preserve the natural resources and ecosystems.
In April and May of 2015, Nepal was struck by two devastating earthquakes. Emergency workers from around the globe, including those trained in health communication, rushed to the scene to assist with disaster relief and recovery efforts.
In an effort to help governments, NGOs, and other institutions respond to emergency health situations such as arose in Nepal as a result of the earthquake, the Health COMpass brought together a collection of tools and project examples for SBCC in Emergency Situations.
April 25 marks World Malaria Day, a time for people around the globe to mobilize around the theme “Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria.”
Increased investment in malaria prevention and treatment has helped drop the global burden from malaria disease – contributing to a 30 percent reduction in malaria incidence and a 47 percent reduction in malaria mortality since 2000. Investment in malaria social and behavior change communication (SBCC) has also contributed to this success, as malaria SBCC activities are shown to improve the awareness, attitudes, and behaviors of its target audiences.
[UPDATED February 2016] Each year, more than a quarter million women die in pregnancy and childbirth. Of those that do not die, an unknown number suffer long-term health problems. The maternal injury with perhaps the most devastating aftermath is obstetric fistula. A fistula is a hole, or abnormal opening, in the birth canal, that results in chronic leakage of urine and/or feces.
