Cambodia. Programmatic approach to IEC on reproductive health

Various UNFPA-funded population programs are now in place in six provinces and the capital and some more are in the pipeline. The ones currently being implemented include projects on maternal and child health and birth spacing, national population census, improvement of family health of displaced persons, and socio-economic research. Those in the pipeline are population education in the school system, gender and population issues, and population and environment. All the programs mentioned have implications for information, education and communication (IEC). To implement these programs effectively, UNFPA and the government realized the need for IEC support. To provide a coherent, integrated and holistic approach to the provision of IEC support to all the UNFPA-funded population activities, a programmatic approach to IEC was developed with the assistance of CST adviser on population communication, Mr. Francisco Roque. The IEC program will basically support the government policy of providing voluntary birth spacing services as a means to promote better maternal and child health through IECM activities; and to provide adequate information to selected target groups required to bring about desired behavioral changes in responsible reproductive decision-making and lifestyle. The target groups to be reached include: service providers and health workers, policymakers and administrators, women of reproductive age, men, and the adolescents aged 15-19 as well as teachers and trainers. The IEC interventions hope to create awareness of the benefits of birth spacing, introduce population concepts in curricula and appropriate health/teaching materials in selected medical schools and secondary schools, reduce misconceptions, provide proper counseling, and sustain government's interest and commitment to the population program.