Sawa Le Baad: An Integrated Social and Behavior Change Strategy for FP and MNCH

The Sawa Le Baad strategy for social and behavior change is one of the first for South Sudan. It is designed to supplement the Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) and the National Health Policy. This SBC strategy document provides a blueprint for SBC interventions to achieve the goals of the HSSP.

The overall objective is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity through improving the health seeking experience and reducing provider bias; encouraging timely health-seeking behaviors and practices through increased awareness and knowledge; increasing acceptance and demand of family planning [birth spacing] services; and, contributing to a more enabling environment through education and promotion, community dialogue and more equitable gender norms.

The SBC strategy outlines the Sawa Le Baad concept, and how it can be leveraged for an integrated approach for family planning and maternal, newborn and child health. The SBC strategy is evidence based and uses an adapted version of the the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs PathwaysTM to Improved Health to model, call "PathwaysTM to Improved Health" as its conceptual foundation. 

Socio-Ecological Model

The Socio-Ecological Model recognizes that the determinants of health behaviors extend beyond the individual and exist at multiple interrelated levels[1]. These can include the household and community level through families, peers and community members; through service delivery outlets including outreach channels, clinics and other health facilities; and can be influenced by those policies and guidelines set forth at the national level.