Preventing Zika in Latin America and the Caribbean

As part of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) coordinated response to Zika, Breakthrough ACTION + RESEARCH reviewed evidence to determine the behaviors with the greatest potential to prevent Zika and Congenital Zika Syndrome and produced several tools for program implementers: a matrix of priority prevention behaviors, a technical specifications guide, and an online guide.

Breakthrough RESEARCH also conduct a survey of Zika knowledge, attitudes, and prevention practices in USAID intervention areas in four countries. This research provides valuable insights about individuals’ exposure to and retention of health promotion messages, and the prevention behaviors they practice.

The project also documents lessons learned from planning and implementing social and behavior change programs, and from generating and using evidence for programmatic decision-making. The results can inform USAID, health ministries, and international technical agencies about how to apply the lessons to future responses to public health emergencies.

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Activity Spotlight: Zika

Programmatic Research Brief: Behavior prioritization to improve SBC programming during a public health emergency: a call to action [English │ Spanish]

Programmatic Research Brief: Zika-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices: Programmatic Implications for Zika Prevention in the Dominican Republic [English │ Spanish]

Programmatic Research Brief: Zika-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices: Programmatic Implications for Zika Prevention in El Salvador [English │ Spanish]

Programmatic Research Brief: Zika-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices: Programmatic Implications for Zika Prevention in Guatemala [English │ Spanish]

Programmatic Research Brief: Zika-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices: Programmatic Implications for Zika Prevention in Honduras [English │ Spanish]

Programmatic Research Brief: Social Behavior Change Programming for Public Health Emergencies: Lessons Learned From the USAID Zika Response in Latin America and the Caribbean

Technical report: Lessons Learned for SBC Programming From the USAID Zika Response

Journal article:  Evidence-Based Process for Prioritizing Positive Behaviors for Promotion: Zika Prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean and Applicability to Future Health Emergency Responses (Go to Global Health: Science and Practice website to read article)

Journal article: Use of effective lids reduces presence of mosquito larvae in household water storage containers in urban and peri-urban Zika risk areas of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador (Go to Parasites & Vectors website to read article)

Journal article: ZIKV-related ideations and modern contraceptive use: Cross-sectional evidence from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala (Go to The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene website to read article)