Micro-Planning: An Innovative Process to Empower and Engage Outreach Staff Strategic Behavior Communication for HIV Prevention in Nepal: Abstract

"Micro-planning process helped in strengthening quality of behavior change communication session..."

The focus of this presentation on the Saath-Saath Project and the Avahan Astha Project, for the International SBCC Summit 2016, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 8-10, is on addressing risks and vulnerability of female sex workers (FSWs) in India and in Nepal.

From the abstract:
"Micro-planning is a participatory and bottom-up process that provides outreach staff the process and tools to collect and analyze the data and information on risks and vulnerability of female sex workers (FSWs) and permits outreach staff to use these information for planning, implementation and monitoring to tailor the behavior change communication sessions to FSWs based on their risk behaviors. USAID-funded HIV program in Nepal, Saath-Saath Project (2011-2016), scaled up the micro-planning processes in 25 districts out of 75 districts in Nepal based on the learning from pilot in five districts during previous project. Lessons learned from the Avahan Astha Project in India and Expanded Program for Immunization of Ministry of Health and Population in Nepal were also used while piloting the process.

Key Highlights:
Micro-planning process helped strengthening quality of behavior change communication session, which is demonstrated by the increased number of visits to drop-in centers and utilization of HIV testing and counselling and STI [sexually transmitted infection] examination services. Micro-planning had supported outreach staff and project managers to track and monitor not only the educational session and activities but also to track and monitor behavior change among FSWs through the use of various tools (individual profile, daily diary and coverage register). Information from these tools are used for planning and tailoring the messages for educational session. This process helped to improve and tailor the behavioral change communication messages, materials and methods based on the needs, priority, risks and vulnerability of FSWs."