The aim of the project is to raise awareness among the public and various stakeholders, particularly amongst young women about GDM, its consequences and how it can be prevented.
Expected impact
510,000 people reached through media awareness campaign on GDM
Baseline study covering 1,400 respondents conducted
124,500 female students from 498 secondary schools/colleges sensitised on GDM
500 stakeholders have participated in 1 national level, 7 state level and 14 district level advocacy forums on GDM
A web based forum created through micro site on GDM
Results at project completion
570,053 people from 3,630 panchayats have been reached through the awareness camps.
541 strategic spots were covered through IEC van intervention to sensitize the communities on GDM through a total of 143 screening/health camps for general diabetes screening among women.
138,468 female school children from 428 schools and 73 colleges have been sensitised on GDM.
9,499 women have been screened for diabetes.
7,575 students participated in rally to celebrate World Diabetes Day.
A web based forum created through micro site on GDM - visit www.onlymyhealth.com
Baseline and end line study covering 1,400 respondents conducted.
1,333 stakeholders have participated in 3 national level, 2 state level and 13 district level advocacy forums on GDM.
Print media campaign covered 3.4 million readers.
Mobile phone campaign sent out 2 million SMS's and received 94,115 responses requested more information on GDM.
Radio campaign covered more than 154,000 listeners.
Several initiatives have been taken to promote the screening for GDM: The Minister of Health Government of India has announced a country wide program on diabetes in 100 districts of India as well as mandatory screening for diabetes among pregnant women at government health facilities. The Ministers of Health from Punjab, Jharkahand, Bihar and Delhi made similar announcements. Finally, sugar test has been included for pre natal check ups in the recently introduced mother and child health card by the National Rural Health Mission program.
Project details
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a major health problem that can lead to severe life threatening, as well as long term complications, for both the mother and the baby including a substantial higher risk of future obesity and type 2 diabetes.
A media campaign is a unique opportunity to inform people about diabetes and thereby combat one of the biggest issues that GDM faces; lack of knowledge and information.
Approach
This project is being implemented as an extension of the completed project WDF07-295 which focused on increasing general awareness of diabetes through a campaign in the mass media. The organisation Jagran Pehel, which carried out the previous, is now setting up this new initiative on GDM in seven districts of four states in India, namely Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand and Delhi.
To increase awareness on GDM, a multiple approach will be used mainly revolving around the following four main components:
Multimedia awareness campaign on GDM management
Education of women through educational institutions
Creating a interactive website
Create a national, state and district level advocacy forum for stakeholders
Before initiating the project, a baseline survey will be conducted to determine the prevalence and existing knowledge and practices of management of GDM. 200 respondents from each of the seven districts (a total of 1,400 respondents) will be interviewed through specific questionnaires and focus group discussions related to GDM. The inputs from this survey will be used to develop the multimedia campaign.
A campaign supervisor and four promoters will use a mobile van to access remote areas in India. They will inform district leaders on GDM and how to initiate campaign activities and provide education material to be distributed in the district. The mobile van will visit five places each day and the venues will be published through newspapers and on the radio, where general messages on GDM will also be dispersed.
To ensure the quality of the messages, the staff sensitising people on GDM will participate in a workshop before the media campaign is initiated. Each management team from each of the seven districts will receive education on their roles and responsibilities in the campaign. They will be educated in several aspects of GDM and how to teach other people about GDM, its management and prevention.
In order to educate women on GDM, the second component, infotainment will be used in educational institutions to sensitise young women on GDM. Quizzes, debate, essay competitions and talkshows will be some of the components used in the information campaign. The sensitised young women are expected to act as peer informers in their respective institutions, communities and in their families and thereby helping spread the messages.
Additionally, a website will be created by a team of experts. A website can guide people, provide proper information and give the right messages. All materials from the media campaign will be uploaded on the website. The website will further act as a forum and encourage doctors, stakeholders and students in online interaction. The website will be available in English, Hindi and Punjabi.
Finally, a stakeholder forum will be created at the district, state and national level. The main purpose of this forum is to share knowledge gained through the media campaign and eventually mainstream GDM into existing public health policy.
After completion of the project intervention, a repeat evaluation and impact assessment will be conducted on the same 1,400 respondents from the baseline study. The learning from the study would clarify the need of a nationwide GDM initiative.
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