Reducing negative birth outcomes from Zika

A communications campaign in Haiti aims to promote the use of mosquito repellent and condoms to prevent Zika transmission, and reduce negative birth outcomes by providing information about family planning to women and couples who wish to prevent pregnancy.

Between October 2015 and May 2016, each of Haiti’s 10 departments reported cases of Zika and 70 percent of cases were in the three most populous regions.

SHOPS Plus implements the campaign using health educators, printed materials for beneficiaries and outreach workers, an mhealth platform, and mass media.

The SHOPS Plus team is collaborating with the Pan American Health Organization, UNICEF, USAID partners, and other stakeholders to avoid duplication of efforts.

SHOPS Plus aims to continuously improve campaign messages and materials by learning about behavioral dynamics related to Zika. The Haiti team will develop discussion guides and reporting procedures to allow health educators to collect information on behaviors. Two questions they are asking are:

• What existing behaviors might be modified and promoted to improve individual and family responses to Zika?
• Within a given community, what conditions lead certain individuals and families to early awareness of Zika and increased preparation to take action to minimize risk?

To assist the broader Zika response, SHOPS Plus will make research findings available to all partners, and use the findings to inform its informational materials.