Behavioural Sciences for Better Health

Human behaviour affects health outcomes. Behavioural and social sciences investigate the cognitive, social, and environmental drivers and barriers that influence health-related behaviours. Behavioural evidence on what influences behaviours at the individual, community, and population level can improve the design of policies and programmes, communications, and products and services aimed at achieving better heath for all. Applying behavioural and social sciences requires a multidisciplinary approach and the adoption of theory, methods, research, practical tools and techniques drawn from psychology, sociology, anthropology, communications, marketing, economics, systems thinking and design thinking, among others. Behavioural and social sciences evidence can contribute to and complement other public health efforts that focus on the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes.     

The objective of the Behavioural Sciences for Better Health Initiative at WHO is to promote and enable the systematic use of behavioural and social sciences in public health across the work of WHO and that of its partners.

Within WHO, the initiative provides support for the use of behavioural and social sciences as part of policy development, programme design, research, communication and advocacy, and capacity building and training.

The initiative has five workstreams:

• Strategy and normative
• Testing approaches and piloting projects
• Technical assistance and capacity building
• Knowledge sharing
• Positioning and partnerships

WHO includes behavioural and social sciences in its work in different ways and across a variety of issues; some of these efforts are included here below.

For more information contact [email protected]