HIGHLIGHTS

• Investments in social and behavioral change (SBC) approaches in reproductive health pale in comparison to other methods.
• We’re collaborating with Breakthrough ACTION colleagues to develop useful tools and inform advocacy efforts and increase investments in SBC in reproductive health.

The Challenge

Addressing behavioral and social challenges is critical to ensuring that all women are able to choose if and when to have children. Despite its importance, investments in social and behavioral change (SBC) in reproductive health pale in comparison to those made in commodities and human resources, among others. 

Our Approach

Under the USAID-funded Breakthrough ACTION project, we sought to use behavioral science to understand the investment decisions of critical stakeholders and increase investments in SBC within reproductive health globally. 

Our inquiry focused on three key stakeholder groups: country offices of government assistance agencies, private foundations, and country government decision-makers. Through a desk review and stakeholder interviews, we found that these stakeholders:

1. Tend to have a narrow view of when SBC might be relevant, thus limiting its application
2. Rely primarily on tried approaches which had achieved results in the past, 
3. Prioritize approaches which are aligned with their strategies which are organized by health system components, and 
4. Struggle to understand what impact SBC may be having on their results given what data is monitored.

With these insights, we’re working with our Breakthrough ACTION colleagues to develop useful tools and inform advocacy efforts to increase investments in SBC in reproductive health.

Takeaway

Interested in our work applying behavioral science to global health? Email gh@ideas42.org or reach out to us on X at @ideas42 to join the conversation.