Pandemic Influenza

UNICEF Response

Communication for behaviour and social change

© UNICEF Indonesia/2009/Estey

A focus group discusses ways to help women and children prepare for an influenza emergency.

UNICEF's role in the UN family is to support communication with communities to promote certain behaviours that can limit the spread and consequences of infection.

WHO and UNICEF have jointly identified key behavioural interventions for reducing the transmission and impact of Influenza A(H1N1) virus. This framework has been developed in response to request by countries for guidance in developing communication strategies, messages and materials in relation to the current outbreak. It focuses on control measures at the individual and family level.

The public health goal of the behavioural interventions is to reduce transmission, morbidity and mortality related to influenza A(H1N1) virus among:

• people who are well — to avoid becoming infected
• people who are sick — to avoid infecting others and to recover from illness and
• people who are caring for sick people — to protect themselves and other family members from infection.

Behaviours recommended to reduce transmission include: keeping a distance of at least one metre from someone who is sneezing and coughing; staying at home if ill; covering coughs and sneezes; and washing hands with soap and water.

Behaviours recommended to reduce mortality include: keeping a sick person away from others; assigning a single care giver to a sick person; giving plenty of fluids to the sick person; and recognizing danger signs and seeking care promptly.