The FP INFOcus Guide - A "For Youth, By Youth" Approach to Sharing Family Planning Information Using Mobile Phone Videos

This guide offers instructions on how to use mobile-first and participatory video approaches to create videos that feature authentic voices and perspectives about family planning (FP) methods. Participatory video brings regular people into the video-making process by having them plan, produce, and promote videos that highlight priority issues and potential solutions from their own lives - or the lives of others like them. In addition, videos that use a mobile-first approach are developed with mobile phones in mind - meaning videos are meant to be filmed, shared, and viewed on mobile phones and not larger screens.

As stated in the guide, "Getting accurate health information is one of the first steps to making contraceptive decisions that can protect against unintended pregnancy and related risks. Unfortunately, many young people around the world face unique barriers to accessing quality family planning (FP) information and services. This is especially true for intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, also known as long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)." The guide is based on the idea that contraceptive knowledge and experiences shared by peers on video though social media and mobile phones can give viewers an opportunity to learn about FP in a low-risk, private setting. It therefore seeks to encourage young people to come together to create and promote short videos that share contraceptive knowledge and model key skills using their mobile phones.

The guide is designed for those interested in using these digital storytelling approaches to improve youth sexual and reproductive health, including:

• Groups of young FP champions who are interested in mobilising their peers - both in their community and around the world - around FP.
• Youth-led organisations or youth-focused professionals, like programme managers, designers and implementers, who would like to lead a team of young people through the participatory video-making process.
• Individual FP users looking to share their experiences with their FP method.
• Beginner and advanced filmmakers alike.

The guide includes tips and resources to help young people prepare, produce, and promote their own FP INFOcus videos on mobile phones, and it offers step-by-step guidance on crafting a story and promoting the videos on social media. The Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) worked with a Nigerian youth-focused organisation, the HACEY Health Initiative, to test out the FP INFOcus Guide and approach. The practical tips and resources provided in the guide are based on the feedback and lessons learned from HC3's work with HACEY.

This resource consists of the main guide, as well as the following appendices, which include practical templates, worksheets, sample materials, and story ideas:

• Appendix A: FP INFOcus Worksheets and Templates to facilitate video planning and production.
• Appendix B: HACEY's FP INFOcus Sample Materials to reference as teams move through the video-making process.
• Appendix C: Story Ideas to spark creativity.
• Appendix D: FP Information Factsheets to ensure that video content is accurate and up-to-date.
• Appendix E: Additional Resources to learn more about a particular topics presented in the Guide.