Behavior change communication strategy for yaws elimination: a strategic approach

Yaws forms part of a group of chronic bacterial infections caused by treponemes which includes endemic syphilis (bejel) and pinta and is commonly known as endemic treponematoses. It is transmits from person to person through direct skin contact and presents with primary skin lesions (open wounds) which often develop into multiple skin lesions and sometimes into more severe tissue and bone lesions if left untreated. Yaws is found primarily in warm, humid, and tropical forest areas of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific, although it is confined to isolated areas. Humans are the only known reservoir and asymptomatic carriers are source of continued transmission. Since there is no vaccine for Yaws prevention is key to identify and eradicate the disease. This paper presents a behavior change communication strategic that took place last year in Vanuatu as a part of general strategy lead by the World Health Organization to eliminate neglected diseases. The paper focuses on the formative research, the findings from the formative research and the subsequent strategy that emerge from the research.