The INFO Project Blog

The debate on elements of successful family planning programs continues on the Implementing Best Practices Knowledge Gateway.

During a rousing debate over the weekend, a participant weighed in from India on logistical problems noting that a surplus of supplies can meet an untimely end if there is no storage space.

I have myself seen health workers dumping condoms in the village well or burning them, when they were supplied with quantities which were not required by the users.

Catherine Richey emailed new questions today to participants on the best tactics for communicating to clients about family planning programs. Have your say by joining the forum here.

1. What type of communication activities or materials do you most commonly use to reach your clients? How do you decide what types of activities or materials are going to reach your clients? Are you using any newer technologies to reach clients, such as cell phones or Web sites?

2. What are the major difficulties that you have faced in undertaking communication activities? How did you address these problems?

3. In your country currently, what are the most important reasons for family planning programs to undertake communication activities? What does communication need to accomplish at this time? (e.g. influence attitudes and social norms, address myths and misconceptions, move people to use contraception, make use of HIV testing, etc.)

We look forward to your contributions.