Men's involvement in women's reproductive health projects and programmes in the Philippines

Abstract

Little information has been available on the extent of efforts to involve men in women's health initiatives in the Philippines. A national study was undertaken from 1997 to 1998 of 41 women-centred projects and programmes in family planning, STD/AIDS and domestic violence to learn whether they had components for men and involved men successfully or not. Twenty projects in five major cities, including NGO, university and a few government projects did involve men, mainly by providing information, counselling, educational sessions and condoms, and recruiting men as community and peer educators. Interviews with 15 project/programme managers found that this work had benefited both men and women who participated in these interventions, but there were difficulties getting men to attend seminars, or use male methods of contraception and condoms to prevent STD/AIDS. Many Philippine men are supportive of their wives' using family planning, but see this as a women's concern. Many reject condom use and dismiss STDs or AIDS as a serious risk for themselves. Many look with disfavour on domestic violence projects, for fear that their wives might gain a sense of freedom and empowerment while they themselves are castigated. Other reasons, such as long working hours, limit men's participation as well. Project managers, men who have participated in these projects/programmes and many women find men's participation important initiatives to encourage greater male participation in future are needed.