Evidence - SBC Impact
Compelling, credible, recent, direct impact data
Evidence - SBC Impact
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
less than
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 3 years ago
Last updated 2 years ago
Read so far

Economic Support, CSE, and Community Dialogue - Lowered Unprotected Sexual Activity

0 comments
Strategy researched
Economic support combined with: (i) community and parent meetings per year on the benefits of girls' education and postponement of early marriage and childbearing; and (ii) youth clubs providing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for the participants and boys in the same class (combined intervention arm)

Impact achieved
Economic support and the additional CSE and community dialogue were effective in lowering unprotected sexual activity (risk ratio (RR) 0.53 for combined support vs. control; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37-0.75). The addition of CSE and community dialogue improved contraceptive use among those recently sexually active (RR 1.26; 95% CI 1.06-1.50) and knowledge regarding contraceptives (RR 1.18; 95% CI 1.01-1.38) compared to economic support alone.

Country of study
Zambia

Research methodology
Cluster RCT with 4,922 girls

Journal
Social Science & Medicine; 2022

Journal paper title and link
Effects of economic support, comprehensive sexuality education and community dialogue on sexual behaviour: Findings from a cluster-RCT among adolescent girls in rural Zambia

Excerpt from Abstract
"These findings indicate that economic support in combination with CSE and community dialogue can improve the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent girls."

Why the focus on direct impact data?

A common challenge from policy makers, funders, community members, people directly experiencing development issues, and governments is: Demonstrate your Impact. Prove that what you are doing works. The high quality, highly credible data presented on the cards below is designed to help you answer that question for your social change, behaviour change, community engagement, communication and media for development, strategy formulation, policy engagement and funding initiatives. At this link filter the research data to your specific interests and priorities

Why a playing cards design?

There is a physical pack of cards with this data (to get a copy please request through the comment form for any card). The card approach allows for easy identification and selection of relevant direct impact data in any context. For example if talking with a donor and you need to identify proof of impact say "take a look at the 7 of Hearts". Quick access can be provided to high-quality data for many areas of your work – funding, planning, policy, advocacy, community dialogue, training, partner engagement, and more. A card deck is also engaging, easy to use and share, a conversation starter, and a resource - and they are fun and different. So we kept that design for the online images as it can serve similar purposes. 

What are the criteria for inclusion?

The impact data presented meets the following high standard for inclusion criteria:

  • Positive change or trend in a priority development issue;
  • Social change or behaviour change strategy or process;
  • Randomized Control Trial or Systematic Review methodology;
  • High quality peer review journal published;
  • Numeric impact data point
  • Published since 2010.