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  • ACSM approaches

    Learning Objectives

    What are the different approaches and brief about each approach and how to develop ACSM approaches

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Once Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) objectives are designed, linking them with activities strengthens the overall programme effectiveness. Several ACSM approaches can be considered for TB. Decisions on which approach or combination of approaches to use should take into account the benefits and risks, the time frame and the expertise and financial resources needed for effective implementation.

 

There are two parameters to determine:

(1) What ACSM activities to conduct?

(2) Which channels of communication to use?

 

Following are the various ACSM approaches relevant to the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) and the activities included in it:

 

NTEP Goal ACSM Approaches Activities & Channels
Gaining political commitment to TB elimination
  • Educate national policy-makers and political leaders about the health and economic benefits of TB elimination. Aim to have TB declared a national health priority.
  • Educate local and community level authorities to encourage them to contribute to TB elimination efforts.
  • Solicit the support of international and national partners.
  • Seminars and briefing meetings
  • Print information (letters, fact sheets)
  • Events around World TB Day and other occasions
Improving case detection
  • Raise public awareness about TB.
  • Reduce stigma against people with TB and correct misconceptions about TB infection by actively involving current and former TB patients.
  • Help health workers, communities and individuals identify TB cases.
  • Encourage individuals to seek care from appropriate sources.
  • Target hard-to-reach populations (prisoners, urban poor, homeless).
  • Formative research to determine the best messages and approaches
  • Mass media including radio and television
  • Distribution of print materials at community meetings or events
  • Interpersonal communication and counselling training for health workers
  • Community mobilisation activities
Increasing treatment success and discouraging the spread of Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)
  • Give people with TB hope of complete cure.
  • Encourage people with TB to seek treatment from appropriate sources.
  • Provide materials to counsellors.
  • Encourage people with TB to complete treatment even if they improve before treatment ends.
  • Make people with TB aware of possible side effects, and where to seek care, if present.
  • Encourage health workers, family and community members to directly observe people with TB taking their medicine.
  • Engage people who are fully recovered to encourage people currently affected by TB to complete treatment.
  • Interpersonal communication and counselling training for health workers
  • Mass media, including radio and television
  • Extensive distribution of print materials at healthcare facilities
  • Community mobilisation activities
  • Peer education at community or interest group meetings

 

 

Resources

 

  1. Advocacy, Communication & Social Mobilisation (ACSM) for Tuberculosis Control - A Handbook for Country Programmes, WHO, 2007.
  2. Operational Handbook on Advocacy, Communication & Social Mobilisation for RNTCP, Central TB Division, MoHFW, GoI. 2014.

 

 

Assessment:

Question​ Answer 1​ Answer 2​ Answer 3​ Answer 4​ Correct answer​ Correct explanation​ Page id​ Part of Pre-test​ Part of Post-test​
Factors to be considered while adopting an ACSM approach include: Risks & benefits Time frame Expertise & financial resources All of the above 4 Decisions on which ACSM approach or combination of approaches to use should take into account the benefits and risks, the time frame and the expertise and financial resources needed for effective implementation. Yes Yes

 

 

 

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