This document describes a social network approach to addressing unmet need for family planning in Benin. The project aims to understand social barriers to family planning use and test interventions to overcome them. Researchers conducted participatory mapping to identify influential social groups and individuals. They selected groups of women, men and mixed gender to engage based on size, meeting frequency, links to others and influence. The project then worked with these groups and key influentials to diffuse family planning information, assessing how ideas spread within their networks. The social network approach focuses on leveraging relationships between influential entities to promote behavior change.

1. Who’s got influence?:
Participatory mapping of social
networks
Global Health
Practitioner Conference

2. GOAL:
Reduce unmet need for family
planning in intervention areas
(2 health zones of Couffo,
Benin)
RESEARCH TO:
• Develop and test social
network interventions to
overcome socio-cultural
barriers to family planning
use
• Understand the dynamic
nature of unmet need
PARTNERS:
• IRH
• CARE
• Plan International
TÉKPONON JIKUAGOU

3. • Social Network:
« … a group of social entities, whether
individuals or organizations, linked
together through social interactions.>>
• Focuses on relationships, not
individuals
• Based on empirical evidence that
highly interconnected, centrally
located individuals adopt
innovations more quickly
SOCIAL NETWORK
APPROACH

4. WHY A SOCIAL NETWORK
APPROACH FOR FAMILY
PLANNING?
• Research shows that social barriers are principal
factors contributing to unmet need for FP:
Partner/community disapproval
Lack of communication about FP
Misconceptions about FP methods
• Individuals interact with, learn from, and get
information from others
Therefore, social networks can influence and
support diffusion of information and new ideas
about FP

5. SOCIAL NETWORKS INFLUENCE
DIFFUSION THROUGH….
Social Learning
Members of a network
exchange ideas and
information; they
evaluate the
advantages and
disadvantages of an
innovation
Social Influence
Members of a network
serve as “guardians” of
social norms in order to
gain approval and
avoid conflict

6. Connectors and Influencers
Connectors have the shortest
path to others. hey are
gatekeepers, brokers, control
the flow, liaise between
cliques.
Influencers are the most
nominated individuals in a
network. They have direct
influence on more people.

7. Classic Network Mapping – Data Collection
• Identify each person in the village, who
they link with, and who they influence

8. Generate a social network map
Isolate
Women
Men
People whe were mentioned
Size of the square = Influence
Influencer
Connecter
Analyzed with
Unicet software
• To understand connections
and village social dynamics
• To identify influencers and
connectors with whom to
work

9. Community Social Mapping – Data Collection
• Participatory mapping of key social
organizations and community resources
and identification and ranking of influential
groups and individuals
• Mapping activities and analysis designed to
ensure multiple social perspectives:
• women
• men
• youth
• socially marginalized

10. Generate
qualitative
socially-focused
information to• learn about groups and formal and
informal leaders
• gain understanding of the social
organization of a community
• help outsiders understand which groups
and individuals are well-connected and
respected and influence the spread of
ideas and attitudes
• Guide decisions about which groups and
people to work with

11. Community social
mapping provides a
practical translation
of classic social
network mapping
Key Concepts:
Social Networks
 influential social groups
Opinion Leaders
 Influential People
Connectors & Influencers
 Among influential people
and groups identified
Need for practical tool to rapidly
identify influential groups and
individuals for social network-
based approaches

12. • Meetings with
local authorities
to introduce
project and initial
participation
• Preparations for
mapping
activities
Step 1: Community Introduction

13. 1. Name
2. Type of
activities
3. Sex
4. Age range
5. Size
6. Meeting
frequency
7. Links with
others
8. Influence
Step 2: Community identification of
potential influential groups using
matrix ranking techniques

14. Staff
review
matrix
rankings to
select
potential
women’s,
men’s, and
mixed sex
groups for
engageme
nt with TJ
Influence Connectivity
Meeting
Frequency
Size Age Range
Step 3: Selection of groups with
diffusion-potential based on
community analysis

15. • Learn about a community’s social dynamics
and organization
• Identify socially-influential people, particularly
in areas of health and social well-being
Step 4: Community development of a
social map and listing of influential
individuals

16. Staff meet with selected
groups and influentials
• Assess FP attitudes using a
series of questions
• Confirm their influence in the
community through
participatory Venn
diagramming
• Ascertain interest in working
on issues of unmet need and
family planning – and with TJ
Project G₂
G₃
G₁
GV
G1: Echange d’informations avec le groupe
G2: Légère coopération dans la prise de décision
G3: Forte coopération dans la prise de décision
Step 5: Validation

17. • ADD DIVIDING SLIDE: METHODS
RESULTS

18. IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION OF
GROUPS IN 47 VILLAGES
Groupes identifiés
Groupes selectionnés par
genre

19. IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION
OF INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDUALS
A plethora of influentials in
certain villages
Residing in the village
Or in another village
About 4 - 5 persons selected
per village (women and
men)

20. CHARACTERISTICS AND ACTIVITIES
OF SELECTED GROUPS
Women Men Mixed Sex
•Food processing
•Stockage
•Sales
•HIV sensitization
•Animal husbandry
•Maintaining a
healthy
community
environment
•Maintaining crops
under cultivation
• Family
counseling
•Sports
•Village security
• Savings and
loan
• Literacy training
• Health
promotion
 Stockage and sales, financial contributions for
Activitésprincipalespartypede
groupement

21. CHARACTERISTICS AND ACTIVITIES OF
INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
Agriculture,
Commerce
Religion
Extraction
de SODABI
Health
(traditional
healer,
CHW)Education
(teachers)
Artists /
Cultural
leaders
Collection
agents
Women , Men, Older, Younger

23. Numberofindividuals
discussingTJtopicsoutside
thegroup
DIFFUSION OF FAMILY PLANNING-
RELATED IDEAS AMONG PARTICIPANT
NETWORKS

24. Groups Connectors/
Influencers
Health Center
Linkages
• Strategically
selected (Informal
& formal)
• Catalyser chosen
by members
• Reflective
dialogue for
outward diffusion
• Follows rhythm of
group schedule
• Strategically
selected (formal &
informal)
• Considered
influential by
community
• Identify their own
actions and
commitments
• Connect CHWs
with FP
knowledge to
groups
• Create
personal
relationships
with influential
groups
WHAT DISTINGUISHES
SOCIAL NETWORK APPROACHES?

25. LEARN MORE &
DOWNLOAD
www.irh.org/projects/tekponon_jikuag
ou/
Baseline formative research Guide to Community Mapping

26. Questions?