11,559 The Communication Initiative, The Drum Beat – 652 – Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights in Southern Africa

On behalf of Soul Beat Africa, we hope that this Drum Beat issue opens new horizons to you related to communication in the SRHR arena – whether you are working in Africa or elsewhere (links to initiatives and resources generated on other continents and globally are included below as well).

• Intensify cross-border SBCC interventions, with a particular focus on high-risk groups and migrant populations
• Develop in-country SBCC interventions directed specifically toward young people, including HIV/AIDS prevention for use in countries, that are aligned with national policies
• Foster strong political leadership on HIV and SRHR in the region and consolidate regional alliances and partnerships to intensify SBCC interventions
• Advocate among leaders at local, national, regional, and global levels for increased promotion of human rights and gender equality and effective SBCC.

To date, the work has included: the distribution of HIV- and health-related audio dramas for truck drivers, screenings of edutainment films at border wellness centres, audience research for and pretesting of print materials for youth and sex workers (to be ready for print and distribution by early 2014), television talk shows on SRHR for youth, and community discussions at border areas and nearby communities. The initiative has also been working with key regional and national non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners as well as government departments to help implement the activities, ensure sustainability, and broaden their reach. Overall, the SRHR initiative is seeking to strengthen SBCC work in the region by sharing SBCC experiences through the Soul Beat Africa SRHR site and by creating face-to-face opportunities and forums for information sharing in the region.

You might also be interested in:

• Some of the many SBCC-centred summaries on The CI site
• The CI’s HIV/AIDS theme site

Backed by the research findings in this paper and in line with the social and behaviour change theoretical framework – and the recognition that youth, especially adolescents, are faced with challenges of (dis)orientation and discovery about sex and sexuality – the paper offers recommendations such as these:

• There is a need for behavioural interventions to mitigate factors behind early and unsafe sex among youth. The interventions should aim to: increase youth knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy; shift norms; and impact on youth sexual behaviours.
• There is need for interventions aimed at improving parental and youth communication on sexual and reproductive health issues affecting youth.
• Health systems and personnel need to be oriented to offer youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services. For instance, there is need for youth-friendly hours of operation, affordable cost, confidentiality, empathy, and age- and gender-disparate (targeted) services.
• There is need to conduct research and advocate for ways of aligning national sexual and reproductive policies on youth with current youth sexual practices and envisaged youth sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

You might also be interested in:

• The CI’s HIV/AIDS, Young People, Research theme site
• The CI’s Adolescents theme site

Just recently, Soul Beat Africa published an issue of their e-magazine focused on SHRH and mobile populations.

Included in this issue are items such as: A Review of Migrant and Mobile Populations within Border Areas of SADC: Implications for HIV Prevention Programming. This review was conducted by the African Centre for Migration and Society at Wits University for the Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication. The findings were intended to inform the regional SRHR and HIV prevention programming activities of Soul City and its partners. It includes a set of key messages and considerations for future programming, such as:

• Mainstream migration into HIV prevention responses: Migrants and non-migrants form overlapping sexual networks and require linked responses. Although there are some particular needs associated with being a migrant that require specific responses, a focus on migrant needs and specific communication surrounding this should not detract from the focus on non-migrants.
• Conduct situational analyses at each border area: Researchers suggest involving representatives of border populations as researchers – this strategy can facilitate access and provide critical insight.
• Involve border populations in the design of behaviour change communication (BCC) campaigns: This involves engaging with representatives of the different border groups (migrant and non-migrant) to develop messages and materials. There is a demand for more interactive and localised materials, including DVDs and CDs.
• Involve border populations as peer educators: The purpose would be to assist in improving knowledge within the different border groups on issues relating to health, HIV, and migration. Success has been demonstrated in working with sex workers as peer educators. It is suggested in expanding this to also consider truck drivers, taxi drivers, cross-border traders, seafarers, fishermen, and other groups, including immigration officials and security personnel.
• Make use of existing networks and interventions: This is particularly relevant when working with truck drivers and sex workers.
• Develop strong cross-border and regional networks and alliances: This will also involve working with SADC to advocate for the implementation of the (draft) Protocol on Population Mobility and Communicable Diseases.
• Make sex work safe: This involves working with sex workers to: develop peer-led initiatives and engage their support for the decriminalisation of sex work. From a public health and human rights perspective, it is critical to address the HIV prevention concerns associated with sex work. Making sex work safe involves working to support decriminalisation and engagement with the police and with clients.

You might also be interested in:

• Various items on The CI site focused on communication issues related to the SHRH of sex workers
• Summaries focused on migrant populations around the world and reproductive health

To find out what is happening in each of the partner countries and to find out more about each of the Soul City partners (in brackets), see:

• Lesotho (PHELA Health & Development Communications)
• Malawi (Pakachere Health and Development Communication)
• Mozambique (N’weti Health Communication)
• Namibia (Desert Soul Health and Development Communication)
• Swaziland (Lusweti Institute for Health Development Communication)
• Zamiba (Zambia Centre for Communication Programmes)
• Zimbabwe (Action Institute for Environment Health and Development Communication)

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