Element Three: Integrating promotion of key family practices critical for child health and nutrition

There are a number of things that families can do to improve their children's health. WHO and UNICEF identified sixteen key practices that, if adopted, will decrease morbidity and mortality from diarrhea, malnutrition, pneumonia, measles, and malaria. Families can be supported to adopt these practices through a variety of effective communication and behavioral change approaches. Strategies for promoting key family practices include:

• Using integrated client-centered behavior change strategies based on integrated assessments or surveys. These strategies take into account who is to perform the behaviors, the time (dry season versus wet season, continuous versus periodic, etc.), and the place (household, community, health facility) they are to be performed.

• Using multiple channels (e.g. local radio, mother's groups, CHWs, community committees, local government) to promote key messages.

• Using participatory community assessment and planning methods to involve communities in identifying key issues and developing local solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• What are the underlying assumptions for Element 3?
• Where is Element 3 crucial?
• How does Element 3 differ from other community programs?
• What types of materials are available?