Gender and community participation in reproductive health projects: Contrasting models from Peru and Ghana

Abstract

This paper examines two distinct approaches to gender issues in two reproductive health projects and the importance of taking gender into account in order to support women's needs. These approaches are embodied in the Navrongo Community Health and Family Planning Project in Ghana and ReproSalud in Peru. Navrongo's initial approach to gender inequity was accommodative. The project worked with men's groups and male community leaders in a participatory fashion to overcome men's opposition to women using familyplanning, while women were visited individually in their homes. This approach was later modified when experience showed that gender issues could not be addressed effectively without involving women at the community level more extensively. ReproSalud, designed by women and implemented by a feminist organisation, is based on the conviction that gender constraints to reproductive health are best addressed by working with women to change their situation, using participatory approaches which foster women's empowerment. In this project although men were not included initially, men have increasingly been involved in education sessions at the request of women participants.