Dear Colleagues,
This issue of C-Channel focuses on research on behavior change communication and health issues in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Albania currently has one of the lowest rates of modern contraceptive use in Europe. To address this issue, the C-Change program is implementing a USAID-funded family planning behavior change communication program (http://c-changeprogram.org/worldwide.htm) to shift contraceptive behaviors from dependency on traditional methods to an increase in the use of modern family planning methods. In addition, C-Change recently published a report http://www.c-changeprogram.org/EmpoweringE&EHealthConsumersFinal_10072008.pdf) of an assessment in Eastern Europe and Eurasia (specifically Kyrgyzstan, Albania, and Armenia) that looked at how USAID and other donors can be more effective in assisting countries in the region to engage health care consumers to take more responsibility for their health care and that of their families. C-Change presented the findings (http://www.c-changeprogram.org/AlmatyPresentationonPrimaryHealthCare_10152008.pdf) at the "WHO International Conference on Primary Health Care: Alma-Ata Declaration 30 Years" in Almaty, Kazakhstan in October 2008. The assessment was spurred by the fact that the Eastern Europe and Eurasia region is struggling to address the enormous burden of both infectious diseases and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and injuries, which account for 85 percent of adult mortality there. To address non-communicable diseases that are often the result of lifestyle choices such as diet, smoking, and drinking alcohol, consumers will need to take a more active role in their health. The assessment found that empowered consumers demand better primary health care (PHC), request more information from health care workers, and are spurred to take action to protect their health. Participants at the conference echoed this sentiment, when they endorsed one of the conclusions of the C-Change presentation "Without empowerment, progress in primary health care (PHC) is not possible."
Two journal articles presented in this C-Channel issue are from the Lancet special issue on the state of primary health care (in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care and the recent WHO conference in Kazakhstan): one looks at chronic disease prevention and management, which is a critical issue in the Eastern Europe and Eurasia region; and the other examines community participation in maternal and child health and asks whether community participation is critical to the success of large-scale primary health care programs. Other journal articles explore the importance of social networks and their leaders to bring about changes in sexual behavior among a Roma male population in Bulgaria; the use of condoms among Croatian young adults and the relation to their knowledge and attitudes of HIV and AIDS; how the attitudes and practices of gynecologists in Serbia toward modern contraceptives affect the counseling of clients on family planning; and the findings from an assessment of a program in Kazakhstan that looked at patient behaviors and improving clinical practices of providers to enhance management of hypertension. See the table of contents below for additional articles on behavior and social change around primary health care and family planning.
We welcome your feedback and ideas that can be sent to mailto:c-channel@healthnet.org.
Thank you,
The Knowledge Management Team at C-Change