Fostering male involvement and partnership: a stepwise process, reproductive health through advocacy.

Abstract

The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) emphasized the key role of men in the attainment of sexual and reproductive health for both men and women. The participation of men in discussions about reproductive health is important in order for them to appreciate its benefits to women as well as to themselves. The UNFPA (UN Population Fund) has formulated three steps to establish the role of men as partners in reproductive health. These are: 1) identifying the issues and challenges 2) identifying and categorizing key audiences and stakeholders and 3) involving stakeholders in the advocacy implementation process. The three main issues relating to advocacy for male involvement are 1) fostering a favorable policy environment 2) re-orienting services to meet the needs of men and 3) nurturing a supportive sociocultural climate. The audiences and stakeholders for advocacy may be grouped into four categories--beneficiaries partners adversaries and decision makers. The direct beneficiaries of male involvement and partnership in reproductive health are men themselves. The partners and allies for male involvement programs include many international donor and technical assistance agencies that support male involvement programs. The opposition to male involvement comes from conservative male-dominated traditional and religious institutions. They fear that changing traditional gender roles in reproductive health will unravel time-tested family and community relation structures. The promotion of male partnership in reproductive health results from encouraging men to participate in advocacy. Inclusion of representatives of male-oriented associations helps in advocacy efforts aimed at involving men. Coalitions and networks are also important in the implementation of advocacy programs.