Webinar Description
What is the role of mass media for behavior change, especially when the behavior is a complex one, like exclusive breastfeeding? And can TV spots alone change mothers’ behaviors? Mass media is a logical tool for reaching enough families to have a population-wide effect on health behaviors. Yet there is a dearth of evidence on mass media’s impact on breastfeeding. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Alive & Thrive conducted an evaluation of its “talking babies” TV spots to understand whether and how they may have contributed to the rapid increase in exclusive breastfeeding in Viet Nam. The evaluation was built on behavioral theory and formative findings. It included creation, testing, and refinement of questions to measure the likely behavioral determinants. During this webinar, two of the article’s authors shared what the TV spots alone did – and did not – accomplish. Following a brief presentation on the journal article, the webinar included an open exchange of ideas on the practicality of investing in mass media for behavior change.
Power Point Presentation (PDF)
Presenters:
- Ann Jimerson
- Silvia Alayon
Article:
Other resources shared:
- Tool: Strategic Design of mass media to promote breastfeeding
- “No Water” TV spot, Alive & Thrive, Viet Nam
- “Breastfeed More to Produce Plenty of Breastmilk” TV spot, Alive & Thrive, Viet Nam
- HealthCOMpass – SBCC Spotlights