More Than Messages: Interpersonal Communication and Community Engagement in India’s National Health Programs

Author(s)	Prof. Dr. Shashikant Sharma, Ms. Sheen Turki
Country	India
Abstract	Health communication in India tends to follow a unidirectional model, but this paper argues that interpersonal communication (IPC) and community engagement (CE) are crucial for sustainable change. It draws from literature, documents, and key learnings from the RMNCH+A program, National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP), Poshan Abhiyaan, and Ayushman Bharat, plus it cites 70+ source, to illustrate that factors such as trust, cultural context and the use of dialogue will lead to a stronger public engagement. Frontline workers (FLWs) are vital in enacting two-way communication from the community health systems perspective. The author encourages moving from simply providing information to a more focused communication that is based on relationships to affect health.
Keywords	Health Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Community Engagement, India, RMNCH+A, TB Elimination, ASHAs, Behavioural Change, Public Health Policy, Social Determinants.
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2025
Published On	2025-06-08
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i03.47403

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