Male Involvement in Reproductive Health

In many societies, men are the decision-makers when it comes to fertility, family size and other reproductive health issues.  However in many instances, men have been marginalised in terms of sexual and reproductive health programmes, which has had a negative impact not only on men themselves but also on women and children. 

Through the Male Involvement in Reproductive Health (MIRH) project, FPAID has been working to improve the reproductive health status of men and women in Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The project ran from April 2004 through to September 2005, and took advantage of lessons learned in a previous Men As Partners (MAP) project that ran in Fiji from July 2001 to June 2004.

Statistics show vital need
One survey in the Solomon Islands has shown that 36 per cent of married women have been forced to have sex at some point in their lifetime. In another study carried out in Fiji, 80 per cent of participants had witnessed violence in their homes. Information from past projects shows that men are often unaware of the impact their behaviour has on the women in their lives, and some men have been reduced to tears when they realise this. Educating and encouraging men to be more responsible and supportive sexual partners enhances their health and well-being, as well as the health and well-being of their partners.

MIRH activities
MIRH has successfully raised awareness of men’s and women's reproductive health needs and wellbeing, and the need for gender equality, and has encouraged communication and understanding between couples on contraception and family life. Activities have included:

• Awareness and educational workshops for men and couples on sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS.Training workshops with health workers, particularly nurses, to improve their ability to provide services and information to men around men’s sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS.
• Building a community based condom distribution network and installing condom machines
• Developing relevant information, education and communication materials to promote the importance of men’s involvement in reproductive health.
• Building relationships with media to encourage the promotion of MIRH project messages to the general public
• Training health professionals in the Solomon Islands to provide vasectomies.

MIRH is funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).