The document discusses using interpersonal communication (IPC) materials effectively for diarrhea control and management programs, noting that IPC materials should be used appropriately during home visits and group sessions to facilitate dialogue on health issues, remind people of behaviors, motivate behavior change, and provide information. It provides examples of how to use a flip book IPC material during counseling sessions with caregivers of young children.

1. Session 4
Understanding Communication as
a programme management tool for
Diarrhea Control and Management

2. Learning Objectives
After the session, the participants will be able to:
• Understand the role and importance of
Communication with the community.
• How people perceive the worker as positive
and importance of positive imagery/community.
• Define communication process.
• Understand the steps to behavior change.
• Understand communication barriers for
diarrhea.
• Understand key messages and key channels
of communication.

3. 1. What is Communication?
Communication is a critical component in
getting the project/program objectives
achieved.

4. Communication
Communication Model
• Talking with one another or reaching out
to the other person with one’s view
through any means is communication.
• It happens as a matter of routine in our
lives. e.g. a child, if hungry, cries for her
mother and the mother, upon hearing
her cries, feeds her.

5. There are five links to make
communication effective:
1. Sender
2. Receiver
3. Message
4. Medium
5. Reaction/The objective of
communication is fulfilled.

6. Communication is of two
types:

7. Two-way communication
Two way communication is more effective
because one person listens when spoken to by
other person and then speaks to let him know
that his message has been understood. Allow
listeners to ask questions, watch their expression
and then take forward the communication.
The role of health service provider is to inform
parents effectively about diarrhea, and answer
properly after listening to their
questions, concerns, thoughts and change
behavior. This is known as IPC or counseling.

8. Communication Process

9. Behavior Change
Before we go to behavior change, let us
first understand what we mean by the
word “behavior’.
Thinking , Views, Concept , Conduct,
Mood, Habit, Opinion , Understanding ,
Visualisation, Method, Attitude, Routine,
behavior, Perception , Prejudice,
Assumptions

10. All these behaviors are not enough; these
either try to restrict our work or help in
facilitating our work. But ultimately the
change we want is Action.
KNOWING DOING
Behavior change is not complete
until the ACTION is taken.

11. Knowing, believing, thinking and understanding
are processes that help to reach that expected
ACTION (behavior). If everything stops here and
does not lead to ACTION, then it can be called
change, but not behavior change.
Our ultimate aim is to bring about behavioral
change.
Then, and then only it can be called
behavior change.

13. Behavior
• The enabling environment- Behaviour change spiral
is not dependent just on their own desires. The changes
they make occur within the broader setting in which they
live. Each setting, or ‘environment’ has a range of
influential features including:
– Social
– Cultural
– Legal
– Political
– Resources.

14. Before a person undertakes a new
behaviour, person usually needs to
• Perceive a reason to do it
• Know what to do
• Know how to do it
• Not have too many negative beliefs./expectations.
• Have the means. (Time, money etc)
• Be confident that s/he can do it.
• Expect that beliefs will outweigh obstacles.
• Expect social approval or at least not expect any
disapproval.

15. To expect the person to repeat the
behavior s/he usually needs to:
• Have a positive experience first time.
• Perceive sufficient benefit for
her/himself and significant others.
• See a personal reason/urge/need to do
the action.

16. Key Messages
Communication is a two way process.
Learn to see things from others'
perspective.
Behavior means Action, we should aim to
help change the action by understanding why is
it not happening and then facilitating the
mother caregiver move towards that action.
Barriers keep action from happening,
benefits facilitate behavior change.

17. Behavior change happens through slow
steps and stages.
We have various media channels for effective
communication of our messages to generate
awareness and facilitate behavior change.
One of the most important communication
tools is interpersonal communication(IPC).

18. Interpersonal
Session 5
Communication
Interpersonal Communication
(IPC) Skills
(IPC) Skills

19. Learning Objectives
•Describe why IPC is good and its use.
• Define IPC and its importance in compliance
and adherence of diarrhea program.
• Learn to see things from others' perspective for
effective IPC.
• Learn to internalize and practice the specific IPC skills
appropriate for the diarrhea program

20. What is Interpersonal Communication?
One of the most basic tenets of good IPC is
the ability to see things from others'
perspective . There is a general tendency on
functionaries part to “imagine” that “we
know” what people think. But this may not
be the case.

21. Interpersonal Communication (IPC)
Skills
“Effective IPC between health care
provider and client is one of the most
important elements for improving
client satisfaction, compliance and
health outcomes.

22. Interpersonal Communication (IPC)
Skills
LISTENING AND LEARNING NON VERBAL SKILLS
SKILLS
• Use helpful non-verbal skills
•Pay attention
• Ask open questions •Keep your head level
• Use responses and gestures which •Remove barriers
•show interest •Take time
• Reflect back what the mother says •Touch appropriately
• Empathize: show that you
• understand how she feels
• Avoid words which sound judging

28. Key Messages
• 40
• 40

29. Session 6
Using IPC Materials

30. Learning Objectives
• Understand the importance and utility of
correct and appropriate use of IPC materials.
• Use IPC material in different settings and
situations.
• Learn relative advantage of use of various IPC
materials.
• Understand the opening and closing of an IPC
session using IPC materials.

31. What are IPC materials?
• IPC materials need to be used appropriately
and in a manner that they become easy to
relate to.
• One should know what is the material and
what is it trying to convey– Is it a story format
that need to be adopted, are there any
generic elements that can be a good identifier
and some that may be alien or out of context.

32. • The design of the material, the visual
elements, the textual elements, the flip
elements, and technique of holding and
turning the pages and other elements to
be practiced so that one is comfortable in a
real session, have to be worked on .
• If there is a user guide, make sure you read it
out before hand. Sometimes there are
instructions on how to use on the inside of the
flip book or in audio or video tape.

33. • It is sometimes very useful to involve the
community members in the process and that
further strengthens the bond and rapport.
Storing the IPC material appropriately
• It is also important so that they have a long
life and can be used multiple times.
• We also get to know the existing
opportunities and entry points for
communication interventions, and the issues
and challenges .

34. IPC/IEC Material and Health
Promotion
• Health promotion and health education
activities rely on a variety of well designed
and effective IEC materials to help ensure
success.
• Every brochure, poster, video tape or other
piece of IEC material is the product of a
decision, supported by research, to deal with
a specific health concern, and to be well
received and persuasive among a specific
audience.

35. • To facilitate dialogue and problem solving
Best used by a health worker during home visits
with an individual family member or members.
• Community demonstrations, dramas, festivals,
large flip charts, and scheduled radio
programs can stimulate interest,
• but the key to stimulating changes in practice
is to take advantage of that interest by leading
good discussions about real problems and
possible solutions.

36. • To remind
Reminder materials are especially important
for behaviors that should be repeated many
times each day, such as many of the diarrhea
prevention behaviors.
• To motivate
Motivation is best done person-to-person, but
the right poster, To motivate Motivation is
best done person-to-person, but the right
poster, film, radio spot, or program can also
engage people emotionally.

37. • To teach
Again this is often done best person-to-
person (or by group demonstrations), but
posters or pamphlets showing something
step-by-step can be supportive.
• To provide information
Posters can work fine to inform people of
some special occasion, e.g., a community
meeting, but they do not have a long life span
in most community settings.

38. How to use specially developed IPC
materials for diarrhea Management
• Flip Book
This flip book should be used for IPC with mothers and
caregivers of children from two months to five years of age.
• This can be used for one-to-one communication during home
visits
• It can also be used with small groups (not more than 10).

39. • The flip book has simple direct messages on
diarrhea control and management.
• One side of the leaf has messages and the
other side has visual depicting some of
• the messages. They have been numbered
clearly on the message side.

41. Key Messages
Key Messages
• Learn to use the IPC material with ease and
appropriately.
• Using IEC/IPC material properly makes them
more effective.
• Involve community members when using the
IEC/IPC materials.
• Do not be dependent on the IPC material; you
are the final message provider.