RATIONALE FOR INVOLVING RATIONALE FOR INVOLVING MEN IN FAMILY PLANNINGMEN IN FAMILY PLANNING

Irina Savelieva, MD, PhD

Research Centre of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology,

Russian Society of Contraception,

Moscow, Russia

WHY INVOLVE MEN WHY INVOLVE MEN IN FAMILY PLANNINGIN FAMILY PLANNING

Men have already involved Women have traditionally been focus on family planning programs Women have suffered as result of men’s absence from reproductive health care Men and women want men to participate

MEN’S ROLE IN CONTRACEPTIONMEN’S ROLE IN CONTRACEPTION

Financial supportFinancial support (e.g., by helping her pay for the method) Emotional support (e.g., by accompanying her to the clinic, discussing the reasons for choosing one method over another, and/or supporting her choice of method) Help with the method if she desires (e.g., by helping to insert the spermicide, if needed, or reminding her when to use it) Support by using an alternative method (such as withdrawal or condoms) in case she forgets to use or has an unexpected problem with her chosen method

9,9

52,3

12,2

8,0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Withdrawal Condoms Natural Spermicide

PARTNERS AND CONTRACEPTIONPARTNERS AND CONTRACEPTION

40,7% women used pregnancy prevention methods when they got pregnant

PARTNER’ PARTNER’ ««PARTICIPATINGPARTICIPATING» » IN IN THE ABORTION’ PROCEDURETHE ABORTION’ PROCEDURE

82,6

64,4

26

166

0

20

40

60

80

100

1 2 3 4 5

1. Have discussed pregnancy prevention with husband/ partner2. Wish partner to participate in counseling 3. Partner come with woman 4. Partner participated in the talk about how to prevent pregnancy 5. Partner have been invited to follow-up visit

PROVIDERS ABOUT PROVIDERS ABOUT MMALEALE INVOLVINVOLVMENTMENT

Only 10% of all providers and 18% of providers who do contraceptive counseling have ever discussed family planning with client’s partner

More than 90% thought that provision of reproductive health services to men would improve women’s health

NEVERTHELESS, a little more than 60% providers support the idea of providing reproductive health services to men at their own facility

CHALLENGES TO INVOLVING MENCHALLENGES TO INVOLVING MEN

Men often lack access to services Men lack information about FP/RH Staff resistance or ambivalence toward men or providing men’s reproductive health servicesLack of support for the men’s reproductive health program by facility administrators or health officials Lack of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials focused on men

WAYS THAT HEALTH CARE WAYS THAT HEALTH CARE WORKERS CAN HELP INCREASE WORKERS CAN HELP INCREASE

MALE PARTICIPATION IN MALE PARTICIPATION IN CONTRACEPTIONCONTRACEPTION

Making condoms readily available at the facility

Providing education to men on FP in various community settings

Providing contraception counseling to men during STI testing, diagnosis, and treatment

Offering couples counseling to men and female partners during female client’s family planning visits

Discussing FP with couples using prenatal care services

Providing an atmosphere in the FP clinic that is welcoming to men

WAYS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGESWAYS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES

Providing training to make staff more comfortable working with male clients, including attitudinal, management, clinical, and sexuality trainingIncluding men’s reproductive health services in the facility’s mission statement Collecting and distributing IEC materials or implementing an IEC campaign

MAIN DIRECTIONS FOR SUCCESS IN MAIN DIRECTIONS FOR SUCCESS IN INVOLVING MEN IN FAMILY INVOLVING MEN IN FAMILY

PLANNINGPLANNING

To increase men’s awareness of and support for the FP/RH choices of their partners

To increase men’s awareness of the need to safeguard the RH of their partners and themselves, especially through the prevention of STI/HIV/AIDS

To improve access to men’s contraceptive methods for couples who are interested in using them

To improve men’s access to comprehensive reproductive health services

BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITY IN BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITY IN INVOLVING MEN IN RHINVOLVING MEN IN RH

Greater access to high-quality reproductive health services by women and men

Higher rates of diagnosis and treatment for STIs, which, in turn, reduce the number of reinfections

 Early detection and successful treatment of prostate and testicular cancer

Fewer adolescent pregnancies

Greater male involvement with children and contributions to parenting Better understanding  of infertility problems 

BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITY IN BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITY IN INVOLVING MEN IN RHINVOLVING MEN IN RH

Better understanding  of maternity issues, maternity care, and ways to recognize an obstetrical emergency

Better understanding  of domestic violence and ways to enhance men's ability to communicate in nonviolent ways

Better understanding  of gender roles, traditional inequities between men and women, and how changing gender roles might benefit everyone

Improved health overall for women, men and children

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION,ATTENTION,

12 september 2003, Budapest12 september 2003, Budapest