The Gateway Behaviors’ Study

The Gateway Behaviors’ Study was designed to promote two key health behaviors - completion of all recommended antenatal care (ANC) visits and interpersonal communication on family health matters. These two behaviors have great potential to facilitate the adoption of other positive health behaviors which include family planning, exclusive breastfeeding and immunization. The project was implemented in Ilorin South Local Government Area using behavior change communication and social mobilization as main strategies. Community-based advocacy and quality improvement (through training of service providers and equipment support) were the supporting strategies used.

Interventions

Behavior change communication messages and materials were developed for target audience that included pregnant women, partners of pregnant women, mothers-in-law. Community members were trained as social mobilizers. These mobilizers conducted door-to-door mobilization to sensitize community people and refer unregistered pregnant women to the health facility. Texts messages were also sent routinely to pregnant women, their partners and other influencers such as mothers-in-law. These were complemented by other community-level interventions that included community dialogues, happy couples’ event and health talks at naming and wedding ceremonies.

Community-based advocacy was conducted to community leaders at the inception and extended to religious and association leaders from 2014. A total of 156 community, religious and association leaders were reached through advocacy and orientations. To enhance the quality of ANC service delivery, service providers were trained on focused antenatal care (FANC), interpersonal communication and counseling (IPCC), patients’ rights, data management as well as birth plan and complication readiness. A total of 128 service providers were trained.

Project achievement

Stories Of The Gateway Behaviors' Study