Health Behavior Change

UNRWA integrates health education and non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention into its education program serving 500,000+ refugee children. The program strengthens primary prevention through health education targeting school children from 2023 onwards, improves nutritional quality of school canteen food, and conducts screening programs and outreach campaigns. The approach recognizes that early intervention during childhood can prevent NCDs like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension that increasingly affect the refugee population. The program also developed COVID-19 health protocols that trained 30,000+ students in Lebanon on hygiene practices.

Praekelt.org's Turn.io platform powering government WhatsApp health helplines across Africa reaching 40+ million users. During COVID-19, South Africa's 'MomConnect' and 'HealthAlert' services provided automated symptom screening, vaccine information, and mental health support via WhatsApp chatbots. The platform uses conversational AI to provide 24/7 health information in local languages, with human escalation for complex queries. Extended beyond COVID to maternal health, HIV prevention, and general health information services across multiple African countries.

UNICEF's mobile engagement platform using AI chatbots to amplify youth voices globally. Launched in 2011, it connects over 39 million young people across 90+ countries via SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and other platforms. During COVID-19, U-Report chatbots disseminated factual health information and countered misinformation. The platform conducts polls on health, climate, and education, with insights shaping policies globally. In Brazil, the "Pode Falar" AI chatbot (Ariel) provides anonymous mental health support to 90,000+ young people.

The World Health Organization Initiative on E-Waste and Child Health supports pilot projects in Latin America and Africa to protect children's health from hazardous exposures in informal e-waste recycling. The initiative raises awareness about health effects of e-waste on children and pregnant women, who are particularly vulnerable to toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium released during informal recycling practices such as open burning and acid leaching. The program works to build capacity for policymakers to enforce legislation, promote safe disposal practices, and develop healthcare protocols for treating e-waste-related health conditions in affected communities.

Egypt's national campaign to eliminate Hepatitis C, one of the world's most successful mass screening and treatment programs. Combined mass media awareness with community screening drives, treating over 4 million people. Used behavior change communication to reduce stigma and encourage testing.

WHO's global social media campaign combating COVID-19 misinformation through the 'infodemic' response. Leveraging TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, the campaign partnered with influencers and celebrities worldwide to counter false health claims with accurate information. Featured viral dance challenges, myth-busting content, and shareable graphics translated into dozens of languages. The campaign specifically targeted youth populations most active on social media platforms, using humor and pop culture to make health messaging engaging and shareable.

UNHCR Jordan implements comprehensive health communication programs for Syrian refugees and host communities. Uses community health volunteers, mobile clinics, and digital platforms to promote vaccination, maternal health, and mental health services. Reaches over 650,000 registered refugees across camps and urban settings.

A UNESCO campaign launched in April 2020 that crowdsourced culturally relevant, openly licensed creative content from African artists—songs, dances, and visual art—to combat COVID-19 misinformation in local languages. Over 400 artists from 36 African countries participated, including Ugandan star Bobi Wine whose 'Corona Virus Alert' song went viral.

Jhpiego works with Egypt's Ministry of Health to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes through health worker training, community mobilization, and behavior change communication. Focuses on antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and essential newborn care practices in Upper Egypt governorates.

India's flagship nutrition awareness campaign conducted annually in September. Uses mass media, community mobilization, and interpersonal communication to promote breastfeeding, complementary feeding, anemia prevention, and hygiene behaviors among mothers, children, and adolescent girls.

The largest public health initiative in history, GPEI uses comprehensive communication strategies including community mobilization, interpersonal communication through health workers, and mass media to achieve polio vaccination coverage. The initiative has reduced polio cases by 99.9% since 1988 through sustained behavior change communication.

Population Services International's comprehensive malaria program uses social marketing and behavior change communication to increase use of insecticide-treated nets, improve care-seeking behavior, and promote preventive treatment. Active across sub-Saharan Africa with proven impact on malaria mortality reduction.

A comprehensive online resource and community of practice for social and behavior change practitioners. Provides evidence-based tools, how-to guides, and resources for designing effective SBC programs across health, environment, and development sectors. Managed by USAID's Breakthrough ACTION project.

The Global Fund invests in behavior change communication as part of comprehensive HIV, TB, and malaria programs. Supports national campaigns for prevention, testing, and treatment adherence across more than 100 countries, with particular focus on key populations and vulnerable groups.

Vietnam's NCHAP was an integrated multi-sectoral campaign launched in 2015 to increase child helmet use following the successful 2007 universal helmet law. The campaign combined public awareness through mass media, school-based interventions, enhanced police enforcement, and capacity building for government departments. Evaluation in Vietnam's three largest cities showed student helmet prevalence increased from 36% to 69% immediately after enhanced enforcement. AIP Foundation's Protec factory produces affordable, quality helmets and reinvests profits into educational programs. The 2007 law alone is estimated to have saved $3.5 billion USD and prevented 500,000 head injuries and 15,000 fatalities over a decade.