Benin's 2006 Demographic and Health Survey indicates that knowledge about the transmission of HIV/AIDS is fairly high. However, rural populations lag behind urban populations in complete knowledge about AIDS.

To increase knowledge and improve behaviors at the community and individual levels the Integrated Family Health Program (PISAF) has implemented communications campaigns utilizing community radio, theater and music.

Knowledge and good health behaviors are critical steps towards reducing maternal and infant mortality, reducing the incidence of malaria, and preventing HIV transmission.

PISAF is funded by the United States Agency for International Development and works with communities and civil society to improve knowledge and health behaviors. PISAF works at building skills for ongoing engagement with the health system and has engaged community radio stations and local theater troupes and musicians in two departments of Benin, Zou and Collines. Professional journalists learn not only how to deliver health-related messages, but to develop the messages themselves. Through this level of engagement, PISAF plans to leave behind a strong cadre of professionals that can continue to address health and development issues through various media.

To bridge the gap that exists between urban and rural populations in their knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission and to promote good health behavior, PISAF has established partnerships with eight local radio stations in Zou/Collines. Professional journalists received orientation to basic health behavior change approaches. They then crafted radio spots that were recorded and sent to the community radio stations for airing. Radio hosts, too, have been trained in the preparation of radio spots on health. As a result, there has been wide dissemination of radio spots on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, of maternal and newborn care, and on malaria prevention and care seeking.

Mr. Moise Loko, head of programming at Radio Carrefour, participated in the training and stated that he now feels very comfortable developing his own spots. For World AIDS Day 2007, this station developed a new spot aimed at encouraging community leaders - women and men - to make a personal commitment to take action to prevent HIV transmission. This message is consistent with the worldwide theme of leadership, which calls upon people everywhere to "be part of those who are building a better tomorrow".

Two musicians have been trained to write songs that convey messages about health. For Africa Malaria Day 2007, these musicians performed in 20 villages for over 16,000 people in Dassa and Glazoué. The reach extended even further when performances were covered by two local radio stations. Additionally, each of the two radio stations produced and aired ten segments in Mahi and Idatcha, the local languages. A CD has been produced with six songs on malaria prevention. These CDs have been distributed to the community radio stations that participated in the training. In addition to airing the songs, the stations hold competitions with listeners to answer specific questions about malaria. Copies of the CD or a tape are distributed to the winners.

Two theater groups have been trained in community theater for health. During the period September to November 2007, more than 130 villages were visited and shows performed on malaria prevention. In January 2008, the troupes began performing role plays and informational theater on HIV/AIDS prevention and testing. The Chef of Hondo, a village in the commune of Agbangnizoun in the Department of Zou, was very taken with the performance. He declared that he had never understood until that day what the role of a condom was. He then proceeded to assist with condom distribution.

Innovative use of various communications mechanisms is critical to an effective behavior change communications strategy. PISAF has combined its work with local radio stations, and theater and music troupes to support the innovation of communications approaches and to create an environment in which radio hosts, theater groups, and musicians will be able to continue to develop new health messages and new innovations.