The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45627

Dale Huntington, ScD¹, Anjana Das, MBBS, DCH², Anurag Mishra, PhD², and Leila Caleb Varkey, ScD¹. (1) Frontiers in Reproductive Health, Population Council, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 280, Washington, DC 20008, (2) FRONTIERS, Population Council, New Delhi, 53 Lodi Estate, New Delhi, New DELHI, 110003, India

Current research on family planning decision-making in India shows a mismatch with actual service provision. While services concentrate on women with female only methods, studies show that decision making still remains in the hands of male partners or family elders. The lack of proper communication and inter-spousal discussion on Family Planning and reproductive matters is often sited as a major reason for non-acceptance of contraception. Similarly, inter-spousal agreement on a particular method is another critical element. The Men in Maternity (MiM) study, underway in New Delhi in collaboration with the Employees State Insurance Corporation of India is using a quasi-experimental design to test an intervention which creates an environment in primary health facilities where men are welcomed to attend antenatal and postnatal clinics with their wives or partners. It is believed that men’s participation will enhance their understanding of their wives’/partners reproductive health needs during pregnancy and in the postpartum period and promote discussions on FP and reproductive health matters that in turn may enhance the family planning use and STI preventive practices. This paper examines husbands and wives pre-intervention responses to questions about their attitude towards future childbearing, maternity care and STI/HIV AIDS prevention. The presentation will explain how these areas are addressed in the Men in Maternity Study's intervention.

Learning Objectives:

1.Analze differences in responses of men and women on key Family Planning decisions
• Articulate the differences in male female responses to issues in reproductive health
• identify areas where couple commuication can be enhanced
• Discuss the possible areas where enhanced communication will impact reproductive health related behaviours

Keywords: Family Planning, Male Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.