Engaging Men As Partners in Reproductive Health

Gender influences women’s and men’s health in fundamental ways, and traditional ideas about gender can place both women’s and men’s health at risk.

Women tend to have less education and fewer job opportunities.  Women’s potential to control and improve their wealth as well as their health is more limited than men’s in most of the world. This prevents women from accessing critical health information and services and can lead to poor reproductive, maternal and child health outcomes, including unwanted infection.

At the same time, the gender norm of a strong, dominant and invulnerable male is detrimental for men’s health. Men do not seek health information and services due to traditional notions of masculinity, where asking for help from a nurse or doctor is viewed as a sign of weakness.  Many men feel it is their right to refuse to use contraception, to allow their female partners to use it, or even to discuss family planning.  These refusals can lead to unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion, and maternal death or disability. Some men may feel entitled to beat female partners who simply raise the issue of family planning or HIV prevention. Indeed, gender-based violence is major contributor to the spread of HIV, other sexually-transmitted infections, and poor reproductive and other health outcomes for women.   

Addressing gender norms is therefore essential to improving the health and well-being of both women and men. Through its Men As Partners® program and other gender initiatives, EngenderHealth works with men to:

• Challenge traditional gender roles and attitudes about “what makes a man”
• Enhance men’s awareness of and support for their partners’ reproductive health
• Increase men’s access to and use of reproductive health services
• Mobilize men to take a part in promoting gender equity and against gender-based violence

EngenderHealth is also an organizing member of a global alliance called MenEngage, which is committed to involving men and boys in gender equality and violence prevention projects.

EngenderHealth currently has gender activities in 18 countries. Our projects promote gender equity and support the right of women and men to healthier, better lives.