In Sub-Saharan Africa, family planning/reproductive health programs have been geared primarily towards women. However, increasingly it appears that involving their partners strongly improves the success of such programs. Involving men is particularly important in the African context, where men often play a very important role in decision-making. In Mali, women's rights, choices and behaviors regarding reproductive health, are all dependent on men's appreciation of these issues. The project's initial phase tested the feasibility of integrating a community-based distribution program for family planning in Mali. During the initial phase, which included an emphasis on community and male involvement, prevalence increased from 1 to 31 percent. A five-year expansion phase in five regions in Mali resulted in a significant increase in knowledge and use of modern contraceptives methods. More generally, the program challenged the particular setting of this patriarchal society by improving communication among couples around reproductive health issues. The pre- and post- intervention data indicates that community-based workers are well accepted in their communities and most of the villagers have used their services at least once. Knowledge of family planning methods doubled among women in the intervention areas, and couple communication on family planning increased from 10 to 40 percent.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should be able to evaluate the importance of involving men in family planning/ reproductive health community-based programs
Keywords: Family Planning, Community-Based Health Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.