Infectious Disease Prevention

A comprehensive HIV/AIDS behavior change communication program in Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp, using peer education, community health workers, and culturally adapted messaging to promote safe practices and reduce HIV transmission among diverse refugee populations.

Project Masiluleke ("give wise counsel" in Zulu) was a pioneering mobile health initiative launched in 2009 in South Africa to combat HIV/AIDS and TB. The project sent approximately 1 million daily HIV/TB messages via the unused space in "Please Call Me" (PCM) text messages - a free SMS service. Messages were culturally relevant and in local languages, connecting users to the National AIDS Helpline. The program tripled call volumes to HIV helplines and piloted TxtAlert for antiretroviral therapy adherence reminders. Later phases explored virtual call centers staffed by HIV-positive "gold star" patients and at-home HIV testing with mobile support.

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.

A UNICEF-supported program using female community mobilizers to deliver life-saving health information to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar camps. Mobilizers address sensitive topics like handwashing, malnutrition, and reproductive health in culturally appropriate ways.

This initiative used human-centered design (HCD) to adapt and co-design a multifaceted implementation strategy for integrating HIV and non-communicable disease (NCD) services in Lusaka, Zambia. The approach involved healthcare workers in the design process to ensure the strategy's appropriateness, feasibility, and adoption in local healthcare settings.

The study highlights the rise of Anopheles stephensi, an invasive mosquito spreading across African cities, posing a new challenge to malaria control efforts. It emphasizes the importance of raising awareness and addressing human behaviors, such as water storage and fever response, to prevent the mosquito from becoming a widespread threat.

This program focuses on improving HIV assisted partner services (APS) by continuing partner elicitation for 12 months after the initial diagnosis. The study highlights the benefits of ongoing partner elicitation in identifying and testing additional partners, leading to higher rates of new HIV diagnoses and addressing behaviors associated with HIV transmission.

This study examines HPV vaccination policies, delivery strategies, barriers, and enablers for immunocompromised girls, including those living with HIV, in Eswatini, Malawi, and Uganda. It identifies promising strategies, such as using Teen Clubs and adolescent HIV clinics for vaccine delivery, while highlighting barriers like stigma and limited cold chain infrastructure.

Breakthrough ACTION addressed behavior-related practices and enhanced case finding to combat Lassa fever in Nigeria. The initiative focused on risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) to improve health outcomes.

Breakthrough ACTION trained Ward Development Committees in Nigeria to address barriers to accessing and using malaria services. This initiative focuses on empowering local communities to support malaria control efforts through social and behavior change strategies.

Breakthrough ACTION collaborated with media outlets in Nigeria to create and deliver content aimed at shifting health behaviors related to malaria prevention and treatment. The initiative utilized mass media to promote awareness and encourage positive health practices.

Breakthrough ACTION implemented a malaria-focused social media strategy in Nigeria, reaching over 16 million people and driving positive health outcomes. The initiative aimed to promote behaviors that prevent malaria through digital engagement.

The ZBRA Orientation Sessions in Guinea aim to address the risk of zoonotic diseases like Lassa fever, anthrax, and rabies by equipping health professionals with knowledge and tools to promote zoonotic disease prevention behaviors. The initiative leverages strategic knowledge management to accelerate evidence-based responses to outbreaks.

This study explores Māori and Pacific Peoples’ perspectives on the development and delivery of a Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) vaccine in Aotearoa New Zealand. It highlights the importance of culturally grounded approaches, addressing social determinants of health, and adopting holistic, family-centered vaccine delivery models.

A study conducted in Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Benin examines why caregivers delay seeking treatment for children with fever, a symptom often linked to malaria. The research highlights the role of structural factors, social norms, and interpersonal communication in influencing timely care-seeking behavior.