Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112384

Lena Marie Edmunds, MPH, CHES, University of Wyoming, 345 Knight Hall, Dept 3708, Laramie, WY 82071-3708, 307-766-3514, ledmunds@uwyo.edu, Elizabeth Rink, LCSW, CHES, Benton County Health Department, 530 NW 27th Street, PO Box 579, Corvallis, OR 93770, and Ann Zukoski, DrPH MPH, Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, 254 Waldo Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-6406.

The sexual health needs of young males have largely been ignored in the field of reproductive health. Until recently, the health care needs of females have received the vast majority of attention from public health professionals and organizations with services focused on the prevention of adolescent pregnancy. Health professionals have started to become aware that in order to support healthy sexual and reproductive development and behavior among young women, the reproductive and sexual health needs of their male partners must also be addressed. Involving men in responsible decision-making has tremendous potential to reduce adolescent pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV/AIDS infection rates for men and women in the United States. Addressing male involvement is one of the most important steps in the sexual and reproductive health movement.

The core philosophy of the male involvement movement is to treat males as individual in order to meet their unique reproductive and sexual health needs so that they can make healthy and well-informed choice about their sexual health and sexual behavior. This poster presentation will present the following: 1) A review of the male involvement literature, 2) The main themes in the male involvement movement, 3) The sexual and reproductive health needs of young males, 4) The core elements in male involvement programs, and 5) The practical steps necessary for planning and implementing effective male sexual health education and services. In addition male involvement programs throughout the United States will be highlighted as examples of effective reproductive and sexual health programs for males.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

As a result of this poster presentation, professionals will be able to
• Identify the core elements of male involvement programs,
• Identify the sexual and reproductive health needs of young males,
• Identify strategies to educate males on reproductive and sexual health, and
• Identify the steps necessary to implement male reproductive and sexual health programs.

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Male Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:


I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Gender, Violence, Male Involvement

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA