Resource

Brief

Two implementation models of workers’ health education programs in Egypt: What works? What doesn’t work?

This brief presents findings from two models of workers’ health education programs implemented by the Evidence Project/Population Council in Egypt. The two interventions aimed to increase family planning (FP) service demand among young people aged 18–35 in Port Said and urban Souhag. In Port Said, male and female factory workers who were trained as peer educators shared family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) information face-to-face with fellow factory workers, distributed communication materials containing FP/RH information, and provided referrals as needed to the infirmary nurses who were trained in FP counseling. In Souhag, male and female peer educators were trained to provide integrated FP/RH and livelihood workshops to job seekers.

The effect of the intervention on FP/RH knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of young men and women was assessed before and after the intervention with respondents who received the intervention as well as comparison groups. Results of a difference-in-differences analysis showed that the intervention in Souhag was more effective than the intervention in Port Said in changing young people’s knowledge and attitudes. These findings suggest that integrating FP messages into livelihood programs is an effective way of educating young people about FP/RH. The brief discusses possible reasons for the limited effectiveness of the intervention in Port Said and outlines steps for its enhancement.