MEN & BOYSIMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING MEN AND BOYS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DISCUSSIONS

BACKGROUND Recently, there has been growing recognition among the

international community that addressing gender inequities in health, promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, and preventing HIV and gender based violence at all levels in society is not possible without efforts to directly engage men and boys as partners in these processes.

Gender norms—the culture-specific societal messages that dictate appropriate or expected behavior for females and males—often limit women’s ability to negotiate contraceptive use, access prenatal counseling and testing services, and actively participate in efforts to improve their livelihoods.

Work seeking to engage men and boys has increasingly been seen as essential to not only empowering women and improving women and children’s sexual and reproductive health, but to improving men and boy’s own sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

BACKGROUND

International attention to men’s participation emerged from the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo.

ICPD Program of Action emphasized “male responsibilities and participation” as critical components…

Peer mentoring has proven to be a particularly effective method for working with venerable young men (BRAC)

No “quick-fix”. Investments are resource and time intensive

Source: Health Policy initiative

CASE STUDY: ETHIOPIA HEALTH POLICY INITIATIVE The USAID | Health Policy Initiative, Task Order 1, in collaboration

with civil society organizations (CSOs) and the Federal Ministry of Health in Ethiopia, implemented a model process to facilitate an enabling policy and institutional environment for constructive men’s engagement in SRH and HIV prevention, treatment, and care

The project drew on a conceptual framework that encourages men to become more involved in SRH and HIV in the context of three overlapping roles: (1) as clients of services, (2) as supportive partners to women, and (3) as agents of change in the family and community (Greene, 2002).

Lessons Learned from project: Policies and policy environment: Link international experiences to local context Networking: Strengthen local capacity to develop and implement equitable heath

policies Dialogue: Prioritize collaboration and identify common ground for action to build

consensus Policy Implementation: Refer to local evidence and frame the message

Source: Health Policy Initiative, Constructive Men’s Engagement in Reproductive Health in Ethiopia, 2010

APPROACHES

http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/Greene_et_al-final.pdf

Stepping Stones Community of Practice (CoP)- Men as Agents of Positive Change

Non-SFF Partner ApproachNon-SFF Partner Approach

Stepping Stones is a communication, relationships, and life skills training package with a focus on reproductive health and HIV prevention that has been used throughout Africa and Asia. The training package was developed between 1993 and 1995 in Uganda

Stepping Stones process involves working with peer groups divided by age and sex, bringing the groups together to discuss their varied perspectives. The program provides men with opportunities to improve their knowledge, while also enabling men to hear the perceptions of women and to consider impact of their behaviors (see next slide for detailed methodology)

Outcome: Increased knowledge of reproductive health issues, enhanced decision-making and communication skills, ability to discuss sexual issues, improved gender, inter-generational and peer relationships (Population Reference Bureau, Three Case Studies: Involving Men to Address Gender Inequities)

http://www.prb.org/pdf/InvolvMenToAddressGendr.pdf

STEPPING STONE PROGRAM METHODOLOGY

http://www.prb.org/pdf/InvolvMenToAddressGendr.pdf

PATH-WORKING WITH MEN AS PARTNERS Benin- PATH has found that theater is a highly effective way to

address health issues—and even begin to change social norms—because it reaches whole communities at once. In villages with no access to television or cinema, and in which many people cannot read, it’s relatively easy to gather a large crowd—often up to 300 people—for a performance.

The theatre troop first visits the chiefs house to obtain a blessing (and permission) to perform. In conjunction with local organizations, used drama to persuade men to support their wives’ desire for contraceptive use. Performances followed with discussion amongst male and female audience members.

Outcome: led to significant decrease in the number of children desired by both men and women.

Non-SFF Partner ApproachNon-SFF Partner Approach

BRAC

o Uganda: expanding certain programming to include men and boys for the purpose of enhancing opportunities for women and girls via promotion of more gender equitable attitudes

oCurrent Programs: The Gender Justice Program trains men and women to be Gender Justice Educators, and Community Action Groups (mixed gender) protect vulnerable community members

oBRAC is developing market-focused skills training for boys in Bangladesh/Uganda, Men as Partners Pilot through IMAGE Approach, as well as broad-based ‘Social Marketing’ campaigns

oOutcomes: in process

SFF-PartnerSFF-Partner

NAGURU TEEN CENTRE Kampala, Uganda- widely recognized as one of the best

equipped youth centers in Kampala. The center provides free reproductive health services and supplies to men and women.

Provide counseling, testing, post-abortion care, and a toll-free phone lime where young people can receive professional counseling on a confidential basis. The toll- free line is especially crucial for men. Statistics show that majority of callers are male.

Outcomes: have been main providers of reproductive health resources in Kampala. Men and boys call the hotline to discuss issues they would otherwise not.

SFF-PartnerSFF-Partner

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Engaging Men and Boys." Www.brac.net. BRAC, n.d. Web.

 Greene, Margaret E., Manisha Mehta, Julie Pulerwitz, Deirdre Wulf, Akinrinola

Bankole, and Susheela Singh. Involving Men in Reproductive Health:

Contributions to

Development. Http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/Greene_et_al-

final.pdf. United Nations Millieillennium Project, n.d. Web.

 "Three Case Studies: Involving Men to Address Gender Inequties." Population

Reference Bureau. N.p., n.d. Web.