223840 “Male-Friendly” sexual health promotion for low-income men of color: Lessons learned from a service-based research project at a community health center in Harlem

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 12:50 PM - 1:10 PM

Debra Kalmuss, PhD , Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia.University, New York, NY
Bruce Armstrong, DSW , Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Amy Neuwelt, MPH , Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Ariana Bennett, MPH , Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
David Bell, MD MPH , Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
There is growing evidence that men's sexual and reproductive health care needs are not being adequately met in the U.S. Men's health care seeking is deterred by a multiplicity of factors including economic barriers, masculinity constructions, and the lack of welcoming and gender-sensitive sexual health care delivery sites for men. This project focused on the health system barriers. We assessed whether a "male-friendliness" (MF) assessment and training intervention could increase the capacity of a community-based primary health clinic to offer male-friendly sexual health services. By "male-friendly" we mean a physical environment that is inviting to men, clinic protocols that are sensitive to men's need for routine sexual health education and screening, and staff trained to effectively communicate with men about sexual health. We conducted the intervention at the Helen B. Atkinson Health Center (HBA), a federally qualified health clinic in Harlem. The intervention included: 1) the development, piloting and conduct of a clinic-based male-friendliness assessment tool which involved staff and male client interviews, observation in public areas of the clinic, and review of written clinic forms and educational materials; and (2) the design and conduct of staff training, technical assistance, sexual health screening and education protocol modifications, and materials development and acquisition. An evaluation of the MF training and technical assistance intervention will be based on changes in key male-friendliness indicators as measured in the baseline MF assessment and a follow-up assessment which will be conducted within the next 6 months.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
1) Define the essential elements of male-friendly health care and health care delivery and discuss why and how these elements can impact health care outcomes for men. 2) Describe the implementation process and outcomes of a training and technical assistance intervention aimed towards increasing the capacity of a community-based primary health clinic to provide male-friendly sexual health services.

Keywords: Male Health, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the research coordinator for this project, have a MPH degree in Sexuality and health, and have several years of experience in sexual health program implementation and evaluation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.