Life Choices

• Project Overview
• Objectives and Strategies
• Activities and Highlights
• Materials and Resources
• Future Plans

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Funded by USAID, this national family planning (FP) promotional campaign responds to the USAID Strategic Objective: Increased use of FP services. A consortium of partners, including JHU/PCS, is implementing the campaign. Various communication channels, including interpersonal, community-based, print, and mass media, are used to disseminate information. The campaign is targeted at youth and adults of reproductive age between 18 and 49 years old.

OBJECTIVES/STRATEGIES

• To re-position FP on the national agenda.
• To increase social support for FP .
• To address misconceptions and concerns about FP sideeffects.

ACTIVITIES AND HIGHLIGHTS

• Community networks: JHU/PCS is working with existing women's groups to introduce Life Choices concepts and issues into their regularly scheduled meetings. This is being done in collaboration with Group Africa.
• Community network rallies: Using the entertainment-education format, these community rallies are being conducted in about 100 towns and cities nationwide. They assist with the process of mobilizing communities in order to generate support for the campaign.
• Production and distribution of IEC materials to the Ministry of Health, various NGOs, and community groups.
• Clinic events, such as community network rallies (Group Africa)

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

• 375 Life Choices discussion sessions with women's groups.
• 100 billboards erected nationwide.
• Television and radio spots featuring Ghanaians of varying social and economic strata (e.g., a business woman, an auto mechanic, a seamstress, etc.)

FUTURE PLANS

• Development, printing and distribution of dual protection information which focuses on personal risk assessments.
• Peer-to peer satisfied user testimonials.
• Scaling up production of IEC materials.
• Expansion of community networks.