1. MALE INVOLVEMENT IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Dr. Babar T. Shaikh
Health Systems Division
Department of Community Health Sciences
Aga Khan University
Karachi-Pakistan

2. Learning Objectives:
Comprehend the meanings of ‘Male Involvement in RH.
Recognize the role of men in RH.
Understand the strategies to ensure the men’s participation in RH matters.
Discuss the implications of men’s involvement in RH.

3. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: MEN’S PARTICIPATION
Men: Full partners and advocates for good reproductive health
reaching men is a winning strategy
to encourage sexual responsibility
to foster men’s support of their partners’ contraceptive choices
to address the reproductive health care of couples

4. New Perspectives Recognize: Men play dominant roles in decisions
Men are more interested in family planning than assumed
Need communication and services directed specifically to them
Understanding-and influencing-the balance of power
Couples who talk to each other reach better, healthier decisions

5. Goals
Provides male support for female actions related to reproduction and respect for women’s reproductive and sexual rights
Increases access to male contraceptive methods
Improves male and female reproductive health
Promotes responsible and healthy reproductive and sexual behavior in young men
Involves men with their spouses during counseling and other FP/RH information

6. The reasons for attention to men:
spread of HIV/AIDS and STDs
ill effects of men’s risky sexual behaviour on the health of women and children
men approve of family planning
men make decisions that affect women and men’s health
awareness that gender affects sexual behaviour, reproductive decision-making, and reproductive health
demands from women for more involvement

7. In Cairo…
At the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo, representatives from more than 180 countries formally recognized the importance of men to women’s reproductive health and also recognized the importance of men’s own reproductive health.

8. The ICPD Programme of Action urges all countries to provide men, as well as women, with reproductive health care that is “accessible, affordable, acceptable and convenient”
The ICPD Programme of Action encourages reproductive health care programmes to move away from considering men and women separately and to adopt a more holistic approach that includes men and focuses on couples

9. The ICPD also draws attention to the unfairness inherent in many men’s and women’s gender roles, calling for men to take more responsibility for household work and child-rearing

10. In Beijing…
The 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, encourages men to take steps toward achieving gender equality and better reproductive health.

11. Terms used for Involvement of men in RH
men’s participation
men’s responsibility
male motivation
male involvement
men as partners
men and reproductive health
A complex process of social and behavioural change

12. Policies and programmes encourage:
Men to take more responsibility for their sexual behaviour
men’s access to reproductive health information and services
communication with their partners
reproductive health care needs of couples

13. A promising strategy to:
slow the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs
prevent unintended pregnancies
reduce unmet need for family planning
foster safe motherhood
practice responsible fatherhood
stop abuse of women

14. Men and Contraception
Men’s participation is crucial to avoid unintended pregnancies. Of the 175 million pregnancies each year, about 75 million are unintended, (UNFPA)
An estimated 100 million married women have unmet need for family planning
Surveys exist only for married women.

15. Safe motherhood: Men’s Role
Men play many key roles
Their decisions and actions make a difference during:
pregnancy
delivery
the postpartum period

16. During pregnancy- by ensuring:
Good Nutrition
Plenty of rest
Timely referral

17. Helping pregnant women stay healthy
ensure proper antenatal and early care
provide transportation
provide funds to pay for visits
learn about the symptoms of pregnancy complications

18. During the Non-Pregnant Interval Period
Planning their families
limit births
space at least two years apart
support contraceptive use
accompany their partners for services
communicate with each other to meet needs

19. During delivery, arranging for skilled care
A trained attendant present during
childbirth can mean the difference
between life and death.
Men can help by arranging for a trained attendant to be available for the delivery and by paying for the services.
They also can arrange ahead of time for transportation and can buy supplies, if necessary.

20. During the postpartum period
men can help with household chores
can encourage breastfeeding
can begin using contraception

21. Men can be responsible fathers by:
becoming more involved in their children’s healthy, physical and emotional development
ensuring that their children receive all of the needed immunizations
helping in children’s day to day care

22. Factors Limiting Male Involvement
Primary health center (PHC) programs not geared to meet men’s needs
Limited contraceptive options for men
Rumors and misconceptions
Unfavorable social and cultural climate
Priorities to women and child care services
Provider’s bias against male involvement
Lack of information and knowledge
Limited communication between spouses about FP needs
PHC service providers are mostly female

23. Men need more info on: contraception reproductive physiology sexuality
pregnancy
STDs
other reproductive health care

24. How to involve them?
How can programmes communicate effectively with men?
How can reproductive health care providers best increase men’s participation?
How can programmes encourage more men to care about reproductive health?

25. Some solutions
Design IEC materials, communication programmes and services, focus gender equality.
RH information and services should focus the couple rather than the individual.
Remove myths about condom and vasectomy.
Service providers to be sensitized for men’s reproductive health needs.
In RH health clinics, a constellation health services may increase the male clientele.

26. Some solutions contd…. Separate clinic for males.
Improved services at existing clinics.
Workplace services.
Community-based services.
Commercial and social marketing.
Increase contraceptive choice for men.
Train providers about male FP/RH needs.