Socio Behaviour Change

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Introduction

Social Behaviour Change (SBC) ACSM is the cornerstone that impacts on the utilisation of malaria control interventions SBC is anchored on the fourth objective of the Kenya Malaria Strategy 2019-2023. Malaria SBC aims at imparting knowledge and skills to the general public so that they can make informed decision and participate in malaria prevention, treatment and control activities. This intervention is implemented nationwide through the following approaches: advocacy; communication; community engagement and social mobilization.

Objective and strategies

The aim of the objective is “to increase utilisation of appropriate malaria interventions in Kenya to at least 80 percent by 2023” through the following four strategies namely:

  1. Scale up malaria advocacy at national and county levels for increased utilisation of malaria interventions
  2. Strengthen community-based SBC activities for all malaria interventions
  3. Strengthen structures for the delivery of malaria SBC interventions at all levels
  4. Strengthen programme communication for increased utilisation of all malaria interventions

 

The Malaria SBC policy guidance is articulated through the Kenya Malaria Policy which states that “The Government of Kenya shall ensure that everyone has access to appropriate accurate and culturally acceptable information about malaria prevention and management so that effective behavioural change and practises are achieved through multiple channels of communication”. The implementation of this objective is further guided by the Kenya Malaria Communication Strategy (KMCS) which is currently being revised to align with the Kenya Malaria Strategy (KMS) 2019-2023.

Key achievements

  • High level advocacy during the launch of the ZMSWM campaign in October 2020, by His Excellency Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, C.G.H President of the Republic of Kenya and Chair of ALMA, which was attended by a host of Stakeholders in the Kenya Health Sector: County Governors (about 30 of the total 47), led by the Chair of the Council of Governors, Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya, The President led the Governors in signing the commitment pledge to implement ZMSWM in their Counties which raised the profile of malaria control efforts.
  • Launch of Malaria Youth Army as the first youth army in Africa to mobilise and harness youth engagement to eliminate malaria in one generation.
  • Increased resource mobilisation efforts for SBC interventions through the new partners on board namely; ALMA and Malaria No More.
  • Development and dissemination of messages through radio, posters and interpersonal communication during mass net distribution.
  • Generation of SBC evidence for decision making; this includes literature review of malaria related behaviour and ideation for Western and Lake Region, Impact Malaria Kenya Gender Barrier Analysis Report.
  • Capacity building on SBC to national and county level officers including implementing partners leading to development of County specific malaria communication plan.
  • Formation of malaria community action teams in eight lake endemic counties.
  • Enhanced media engagement to highlight successes achieved in malaria control which led to visibility of malaria control activities during WMD 2021 commemoration, launch of ZMSWM and Malaria Youth Army, and there after including use of social media toolkits.

Key challenges

Sub optimal utilization of malaria control interventions.