'COME GATHER AROUND TOGETHER'.

It has been shown that educational message via mass media based entertainment can improve family planning behavior. It is likely that audience participation in the form of listening groups may enhance the impact of these programs. In Fulbari (Nepal), a partnership between local government agencies, community leaders, audience members and program staff led to the lunch of listening groups complementing a mass family planning initiative. Using survey data supplemented by anecdotal evidence and service statistics, this study examines the association between membership in these listening groups and family planning behavior. Multivariate logistic regression models show a significant relationship between radio listenership and knowledge and behavior variables above and beyond the positive association with the radio program itself. Results affirm the importance of a partnership between program organizers, community leaders, NGO partners and the audience community, in order to at least sustain positive family planning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]