The CI PartnersClassifiedsAbout Us |
Average Rating: 4 out of 5 (1 ratings submitted)
Together for a Happy Family Campaign - JordanRegionGlobal, Africa Programme SummaryFor a 2 year period beginning in March 1998, the Jordanian National Population Commission (NPC) ran a national multimedia campaign in an effort to get men involved in family planning. "Together for a Happy Family" enlisted religious leaders and Jordan's royal family to help men and women increase their knowledge and change their behaviour regarding the use of modern family planning methods. The goal of the campaign was to enlist men's support in making informed family planning decisions with their wives. Communication StrategiesThe campaign, whose slogan was "Together for a Happy Family", was designed around the following messages:
Involving the royal family and religious and political leaders, both before the inception of the campaign and throughout its implementation, was a central campaign strategy. Highly respected people, organisers speculated, might be able to reach men more effectively. For example, to show his support for the campaign, His Majesty King Abdullah agreed to have a photo of the royal family on the cover of the NPC's family planning calendar, which communicated the campaign's messages through its nationwide distribution. Under the auspices of Her Royal Highness Princess Basma, who endorsed and launched the campaign, the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers appeared at major public events. In addition, as part of a strategy to raise awareness among Jordanians who are unaware that Islam permits modern family planning methods, religious leaders participated in observational tours and family planning training in Egypt to explore the role they could play in the campaign. Islamic scholars wrote booklets informing readers that using family planning is consistent with the teachings of Islam. Religious leaders, the general public, mosque libraries, and Islamic centres were recipients of these booklets. Five TV and five radio spots that aired during prime time featured religious leaders expressing their support for the campaign. These leaders also discussed campaign themes during family programmes on Jordanian TV and radio, responded to questions from the audience, and wrote newspaper articles. To mobilise local communities, project staff trained 40 "Triad Teams." A physician, religious leader, and social worker used a video, discussion guide, and brochures to conduct discussion sessions about campaign themes with community leaders. The community leaders further disseminated the campaign themes through efforts to discuss them with family, friends, and community members. Through the four major daily Jordanian newspapers, the campaign launched a National Family Planning Contest that emphasised campaign messages. Grand prize offers were designed to encourage information-seeking behaviour and dialogue within and among families as part of an effort to answer the multiple-choice quiz. Partnership was central to this campaign. Liaison officers represented their organisations in the campaign's steering committee, which met regularly. The officers actively participated in the campaign design workshop, collectively produced the campaign design document, and provided sustained monitoring, follow-up, and reporting on different activities. Development IssuesFamily Planning, Gender. Key PointsHusband opposition, religious prohibition, and health concerns markedly limited the use of modern family planning methods in Jordan before 1996. Researchers from Jordan and Baltimore conducted the first national survey on family planning knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in 1996. They found that lack of knowledge about the Islamic stance on the use of specific methods and limited knowledge about the safety, reversibility, and effectiveness of modern methods were two major barriers. The survey also revealed that large families and a preference for male children were social norms that influenced men's opposition to family planning use. PartnersThe NPC, with technical assistance from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Program's Population Communication Services (JHUCCP); the Ministries of Health, Social Development, and Islamic Affairs; Jordan Radio and TV; the Jordanian Association for Family Planning and Protection; and other non-governmental and private sector organisations. ContactAlfred Yassa, MD, MPH
Senior Health & Communication Advisor AYASSA@jhuccp.org OR Soliman Farah, MD, MPH Jordan Resident Advisor solimanf@nets.com.jo OR Judy Heck Program Support Coordinator jheck@jhuccp.org Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs 111 Market Place, Suite 310 Baltimore, MD 21202 USA Tel.: (410) 659-6300 Fax: (410) 659-6266 JHUCCP website The NPC, with technical assistance from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Program's P
Related SummariesSource"Men in Jordan Get Involved in 'Together for a Happy Family'" in JHUCCP's Communication Impact! January 2003, Number 14; and letter sent from Judy Heck to The Communication Initiative on August 19 2004. Placed on the Communication Initiative site November 21 2003 Last Updated August 20 2004 |
Login / RegisiterFree and Plural MediaWhat is your answer to James Deane's blog question: "Is a free and plural media more important than elections in securing democratic development?"
Democratic Governance News |