Please note: This archive was last updated in 2005.
RHO archives : Topics : Men and Reproductive Health
Links
Updated December 12, 2004
Listed below are useful web resources on men and reproductive health in low-resource settings. If you know of a resource to be included in this list, please send the URL (web address) and a description to: rho@path.org .
Please note that PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader software, which can be downloaded for free at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.
Policy documents
International Conference
on Population and Development, Cairo 1994
www.iisd.ca/linkages/cairo.html
The ICPD Platform of Action includes specific sections on men's involvement
in reproductive health.
World Conference
on Women 1995 Beijing
www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform
The Platform of Action includes specific sections on men's involvement in
reproductive health.
Organizations
Alan Guttmacher Institute
www.agi-usa.org/
The mission of The Alan Guttmacher Institute is to protect and expand the
reproductive choices of all women and men in freedom and dignity. The Institute's
website includes statistics and policy research on sexual behavior, youth,
and sexually transmitted diseases. For specific information related to men's
reproductive health use the "search" feature to find full text
articles from Family Planning Perspectives and International Family
Planning Perspectives. Additionally, AGI has published In
Their Own Right: Addressing the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of
American Men.
This publication presents a compilation and analysis of national research
findings on the sexual and reproductive health needs of men in the United
States. It is available for purchase on their website at www.guttmacher.org/shopper/reports.html#FP0052.
AGI has also published In
Their Own Right: Addressing the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of
Men Worldwide, which indicates that men, particularly those in developing
countries, lack vital information about preventing unintended pregnancy
and the spread of sexually transmitted disease. The report and presentation
materials are available at www.gutmacher.org/pubs/itor/html.
Center for Health and Gender Equity
(CHANGE)
http://genderhealth.org
The Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) works to ensure that the
health and population policies of international institutions supported by
the United States government actively promote women's reproductive and sexual
health. The CHANGE website includes information on CHANGE's work on gender,
reproductive health, and violence. Engaged in a variety of activities designed
to promote the constructive involvement of men in reproductive health, CHANGE
has developed a review of donor policies on male involvement and programmatic
efforts to involve men.
The EC/UNFPA Initiative
for Reproductive Health (RHI) in Asia
www.asia-initiative.org/index.html
This initiative is a collaboration between the European Commission and UNFPA.
The four-year initiative provides financial support for reproductive health
activities in Asia. Among the goals of the initiative are the advancement
and implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action in South and Southeast
Asia. Fact sheet #8, Focus on Men and Reproductive Health Issues,
can be downloaded from their site as an HTML document (www.asia-initiative.org/news_fs8.html)
or as a PDF (www.asia-initiative.org/RHI_Focus_on_Men.pdf).
EngenderHealth
www.engenderhealth.org
EngenderHealth (formerly AVSC International) is a global organization committed
to improving the health and lives of individuals, families, and communities
by making quality reproductive health care services safe and available.
In keeping with this mission, EngenderHealth has implemented the Men
As Partners (MAP) program (www.engenderhealth.org/ia/wwm/wwmo.html),
a three-year global effort designed to: increase male awareness of the need
to safeguard reproductive health, especially through the prevention of sexually
transmitted diseases; assist men in their use of temporary contraception
and sterilization; increase male awareness and support of the reproductive
health choices of their partners. The MAP web page describes these efforts
and presents case studies, as well as links to reports on workshops and
innovative programs worldwide. Several publications also are available on
line: Working Paper #4, Vasectomy
in Kenya: The First Steps (www.engenderhealth.org/pubs/workpap/wp4/wp_4.html);
Working Paper #8, A
Successful National Program for Expanding Vasectomy Services: The Experience
of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (www.engenderhealth.org/pubs/workpap/wp8/wp_8.html);
and Involving
Men as Partners in Reproductive Health: Lessons Learned From Turkey
(www.engenderhealth.org/pubs/workpap/wp12/wp_12.html).
Family Health International (FHI)
www.fhi.org
FHI is a not-for-profit organization committed to helping women and men
have access to safe, effective, acceptable, and affordable family planning
methods; preventing the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections
(STIs); and improving the health of women and children. The website includes
a search engine that can be used to access numerous FHI publications dealing
with various aspects of men and reproductive health. The spring 1998 issue
of FHI's publication Network features articles on Men
and Reproductive Health (available at: www.fhi.org/en/fp/fppubs/network/v18-3/index.html).
"Men and
Reproductive Health," a 44-page resource for Arabic-speaking health
care providers and policy makers, is available online in Arabic at www.fhi.org/ar/networka/avg19-1/indexg.html.
Focus on Young Adults
www.pathfind.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MAJOR_PROJECTS_FOCUS
Focus on Young Adults was a Pathfinder International partnership program.
The program aimed to improve the overall health and well-being of adolescents
through the implementation of adolescent reproductive health programs.
International Council on Management
of Population Programmes (ICOMP)
www.icomp.org.my/
Based in Malaysia, ICOMP's mission is to improve population program management
through the development of bilateral and multilateral strategic alliances.
ICOMPs website features a Men
and Reproductive Health page with links to program examples (www.icomp.org.my/Grh/Grh.htm).
International Planned Parenthood Federation
(IPPF)
www.ippf.org
IPPF believes that further progress in family planning is dependent on the
attitudes and behavior of men. The Federation, guided by its strategic plan,
Vision 2000, has supported a shift in the emphasis of Family Planning Association
(FPA) programs from delivery of services geared only toward women, to services
that also involve men.Descriptions of various programs may be found at
the website. Male
Involvement: An Annotated Bibliography from the ECO/UNFPA Conference
on the Role of Men in Population and Reproductive Health Programmes, Baku,
Azerbaijan, 21–24 September 1998 is available online at www.ippf.org/resource/mbib/index.htm.
The IPPF Western Hemisphere Region
(IPPF/WHR) (www.ippfwhr.org/) was founded in 1954, and is one of six regions
that comprise the IPPF. IPPF/WHR's website features a Male Involvement section
and links to various resources, including the Working With Young Men
series of workbooks and an animated video developed for educators and health
workers who work with young men. Topics related to young men's development
and health are addressed. Various articles
and monographs on male involvement can be accessed or ordered on their
website (www.ippfwhr.org/publications/publications_by_topic_e.asp?CategoryID=9&CategoryName=male).
Johns Hopkins Center for Communications
Programs
www.jhuccp.org
The Center works with many international agencies, foundations, governments,
and nongovernmental organizations in the United States and overseas to promote
healthy behavior. The Population Information Program supplies health and
family planning professionals and policy makers with authoritative, accurate,
and up-to-date information through its journal Population Reports,
the bibliographic database POPLINE, and the Media/Materials Clearinghouse
(M/MC). A CD-ROM entitled "Helping Involve Men (HIM)," which provides
easy access to important and programmatic literature on men's participation
in reproductive health, is available on request. Useful links within the
site include:
- M/MC Clearinghouse (www.hcpartnership.org/mmc/) includes the Health Communications Materials database of more than 2,000 materials (pamphlets, audiotapes, calendars, flip charts, videos, training tapes, and posters. A search on "men" retrieves 138 samples from many countries with messages based on the concerns of men.
- Population Reports issue Reproductive Health: New Perspectives on Men's Participation (www.jhuccp.org/pr/j46edsum.stm).
- POPLINE bibliographic database (http://db.jhuccp.org/popinform/basic.html), with the most popular searches from the last four years—including these topics related to men: condoms, AIDS and men, and men and family planning—at http://db.jhuccp.org/popinform/MostPopular.stm.
Male Health Center
www.malehealthcenter.com/
The Male Health Center a health center located in Texas specializing in
male health. The U.S.-based website includes information on the center
and their services, as well as general information on male health concerns.
Male Network: For
Men Against Violence by Men
www.man-net.nu/engelsk/start.htm
This website is a Swedish-based initiative that advocates for increased
male participation to end violence against women and promote gender equality
for the sake of women and children, as well as for men.
Marie Stopes International
www.mariestopes.org.uk
Marie Stopes International (MSI) has always felt that men need to be included
in reproductive health services. In South America, Marie Stopes Bolivia
set up projects with army barracks, giving talks on the prevention of sexually
transmitted infection, including role-playing to demonstrate the use of
condoms. African partners of MSI have devised sophisticated marketing campaigns
to promote vasectomy, using video clips of satisfied clients in Kenya talking
about the benefits. In India, condoms have been advertised with hard-hitting
slogans to appeal to men, with products branded with macho names that reassure
men their virility won't be impaired. A Man-to-Man project in Malawi offers
a male-only environment for discussion about reproductive health and family
planning. In the Philippines, a night clinic offering contraception, health
checks and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, provides a handy
drop-in point specifically for male night workers such as taxi drivers.
The website features MSI services, including contraceptive choices for men,
advocacy, and resources. It also links to www.likeitis.org,
a popular sex education website for 11- to 15-year-old boys and girls in
Australia and England.
The Men's Center
www.themenscenter.com
The Men's Center website is a tool of The Men's Resources Network, a non-profit
created to increase awareness of men's issues. The website provides
a variety of local, state, national, and international resources to address
men's issues.
Men's Health Network
www.menshealthnetwork.org/
The Men's Health Network is an informational and educational organization
created to address the challenges affecting men's health.
Men's Studies Press
www.mensstudies.com
The Men's Studies Press is a small, independent publisher of scholarly books
and journals such as the Journal
of Men's Studies (www.mensstudies.com/msp/harriman/jmspurpose.html)
and the International
Journal of Men's Health (www.mensstudies.com/msp/harriman/ijmh.html).
Each journal is published three times a year, with abstracts of current
and past issues available online.
National Center on Fathers
and Families (NCOFF)
www.ncoff.gse.upenn.edu/
The NCOFF was established in 1994 to improve children's lives and the capability
of families as well as to support research conduct and dissemination in
the field of father involvement. NCOFF is developed around seven "core
learnings:" 1. Fathers care about their families; 2. Fathers' presence
matters; 3. Joblessness is a major impediment to family formation and father
involvement. 4. Existing institutions create obstacles and disincentives
to father involvement. 5. Skills and support for young fathers and mothers
need to be established. 6. The transition from biological to committed father
has significant development implications 7. The behavior of young parents
is influenced by intergenerational familial beliefs and practices. The website
includes a Research Database, which consists of citation lists, annotated
bibliographies, abstracts, and program information. Of particular interest
is the Survey of Programs Database with information about 940 U.S.-based
father involvement programs.
The National Latino Fatherhood and Family
Institute
www.nlffi.org
The National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute is a collaborative effort
of Bienvenidos Family Services, The National Compadres Network and Behavioral
Assessment, INC. The overall goal of the Institute is to address the multifaceted
needs of the Latino males as it relates to their positive involvement in
their families and community. Through research, training and direct service,
the institute will look at the development of fathers as active positive
partners in nurturing, guidance, and education of their children; while
at the same time, addressing the very painful aspects of child abuse, domestic
violence, gang violence, school failure, illiteracy, teen pregnancy and
other related issues. The web site includes a newsletter that is updated
regularly as well as information about various NLFFI programs to reach Latino
men.
Oxfam GB
www.oxfam.org.uk
Oxfam GB is a development, relief, and advocacy organization based in the
United Kingdom that collaborates with partner organizations internationally
to overcome poverty and suffering. Oxfam works on several issues including
gender equality and men. Oxfam’s Gender Equality & Men (GEM) project
uses a gender analysis approach, recognizing the need to involve and engage
men as well as women to achieve sustainable impact on poverty. In June 2002,
the GEM project hosted a workshop entitled, “Gender Is Everyone’s
Business: Programming with Men to Achieve Gender Equality.” Materials
and presentations from the workshop, as well as a full copy of the workshop
report, can be downloaded from the Oxfam website at www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/issues/gender/gem/workshop.htm.
PAHO (Pan American Health Organization)
www.paho.org
In both English and Spanish, this site has a section on gender and health
issues. A comprehensive bibliography on men and gender differences in health
will soon be available. PAHO's Research
Protocols to Study Sexual and Reproductive Health of Male Adolescents and
Young Adults in Latin America (www.paho.org/English/HPP/HPF/ADOL/protocol.htm)
describes a proposed study of the reproductive and sexual health of male
adolescents and young adults in selected Latin American countries. The results
will guide the development of policies and programs that promote the sexual
and reproductive health of male adolescents through better understanding
of their knowledge, attitudes, and practices, taking into account the influence
of the social construction of masculinity in Latin America. Their New
Project Involves Men in Reproductive Health Programs (www.paho.org/English/DPI/PRESS_000411.HTM)
is a four-year, $1.2 million project that will be managed by PAHO and the
Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. The project will focus on
improving the sexual and reproductive health of Central American women and
men.
Panos Institute
www.panos.org.uk/
The Panos Institute is an international, nonprofit institute working with
partners worldwide to stimulate informed public and policy debate and build
media capacities on developing-country issues. Panos activities help to
examine the relationship between men and AIDS, the impact of men's behavior
on women and other men, and initiatives designed to help men protect themselves
and their partners. Panos is running a series of information activities
on young men (aged 10 to 24) and HIV. In July 2001, Panos published a report
entitled Young
Men and HIV: Culture, Poverty and Sexual Risk.
This report outlines the importance of involving youth in HIV/AIDS programs.
It also attempts to stimulate debate and increase awareness of the issues
affecting young men and HIV/AIDS among policy makers, the media, and service
providers. Although the report is out of print, it can be downloaded from
their website at www.panos.org/resources/reportdetails.asp?id=1021.
PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology
in Health)
www.path.org
PATH's mission is to improve the health of people around the world by advancing
technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging healthy behaviors.
PATH recognizes the importance of making reproductive health services available
to men and has designed a variety of
educational materials and initiatives for men (www.path.org/programs/p-wom/men_in_rh.htm).
PATH's publication Outlook
also has addressed issues relevant to men (www.path.org/outlook/html/14_3.htm).
Population Council
www.popcouncil.org
The mission of the Population Council is to improve the well-being and reproductive
health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve
a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources.
The website has many publications on aspects of men's involvement in reproductive
health, including a summary of the council's recent
work on men's roles (www.popcouncil.org/ppdb/men.html). The site's search
engine will retrieve articles from Studies in Family Planning, the council's
Working Papers series, Quality/Calidad/Qualité, Population and Development
Review, and Population Briefs. The Gender, Family, and Development Program
has several publications relevant to men and reproductive health; a newsletter
(Toward a New Partnership); Families
in Focus: New Perspectives on Mothers, Fathers, and Children (www.popcouncil.org/gfd/fif.html);
and Learning
About Sexuality: A Practical Beginning (www.popcouncil.org/mediacenter/barcelona/las.html).
Instituto PROMUNDO
www.promundo.org.br/materia/view/81?languageCode=en
PROMUNDO is a Brazilian NGO that focuses on the inclusion of young men
in their Adolescents, Gender and Health Initiative. The Institute tests
and
disseminates techniques for working with young men in sexual and reproductive
health programs. Promundo has recently published a set of five manuals,
entitled Working With Young Men, and an accompanying animated
videotape,
Once Upon a Boy. Designed for educators and health workers that
work with male youth, the set of five manuals includes Sexuality and
Reproductive Health; Paternity and Care Giving; Reasons
and Emotions;
From Violence to Peaceful Coexistence, Including Gender-based Violence;
and Preventing and Living With HIV/AIDS. Copies are available
in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Copies of the manual
series and videotape
can be ordered from the Promundo website's Publications
page at www.promundo.org.br/materia/view/99.
Q Web
Sweden
Male Involvement: What Can Be Found on the Internet?
www.qweb.kvinnoforum.se/papers/maleinvolv.html
Q Web Sweden is a worldwide network of exchange of knowledge, experience
and ideas on women's health and gender issues. Q Web has a page entitled
"Gendering men—shared concern," which has an extensive list of selected
sites on the Internet about male involvement. In November 2000, Q Web hosted
a seminar on men's roles in Sexual and Reproductive Rights. Q Web has published
a report based on the conference presentations entitled "Choice
and Power—Sexual and Reproductive Rights for Women and Men," which
is available online at www.qweb.kvinnoforum.se/choiceandpower/report.htm.
Resource
Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (ReCAPP)
www.etr.org/recapp/theories/mip/index6.htm
ReCAPP provides practical tools and information to effectively reduce sexual
risk-taking behaviors. Teachers and Health Educators will find up-to-date,
evaluated program materials to help with their work with teens. ReCAPP features
a page of male involvement links.
Safe
Passages to Adulthood
www.socstats.soton.ac.uk/cshr/SafePassages.htm
Safe Passages to Adulthood is a five-year research program on young people's
sexual health in less developed countries. The program has two main purposes:
increasing the research capacity of developing country partners, and generating
new knowledge that will lead to the development of culturally relevant,
clear, and systematic guidelines for effective action at a program and policy
level. Safe Passages hosted an expert meeting, Working with Young Men, the
results of which are presented in Working
With Young Men to Promote Sexual and Reproductive Health (www.socstats.soton.ac.uk/cshr/
SafePassagesyoungmen.html#Safe%20Passages). The document includes illustrative
case studies, a discussion of key issues raised, and guidelines for work
with young men.
United Nations
Development Program (UNDP)/Men and Gender Equality
www.sdnp.undp.org/gender/programmes/men/
The UNDP Men's Group was established by a group of male UNDP staff following
a workshop in 1999. Their site includes information on the seminar series,
commentaries on mainstreaming gender equality, an electronic discussion
forum, bibliography, and links to related organizations.
United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA)
www.unfpa.org/index.htm
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is a multilateral organization
working to improve reproductive health worldwide. The website includes publications
and press releases related to gender equity issues and men and reproductive
health, including a report on
Enhancing Men's Roles and Responsibilities in Family Life
(www.unfpa.org/intercenter/role4men/enhancin.htm).
Urban Institute:
Involving Males in Preventing Teen Pregnancy
www.urban.org/family/invmales.html
The Urban Institute is a nonprofit policy research organization established
in Washington, DC , in 1968. The Institute's goals are to improve thinking
about society's problems and efforts to solve them, improve government decisions
and their implementation, and increase citizens' awareness about important
public choices. The Institute's website features a report entitled "Involving
Males in Preventing Teen Pregnancy: A Guide for Program Planners."
Wise Guys
www.wiseguysnc.org/
Wise Guys is an award-winning teen pregnancy prevention program, based in
Greensboro, North Carolina, that uses a male-centered approach. It consists
of a 12-week course and curriculum for male youths, ages 11 to 19. Wise
Guys also offers professional training and programs for parents, schools,
and community groups. Additionally, Wise Guys has translated its program
and curriculum into Spanish under its Hispanic Initiative in order to broaden
its reach.
Men's reproductive health concerns
APHA
129th Annual Meeting Paper Session: The Role of Men and Reproductive
Health - International Perspectives
http://apha.confex.com/apha/129am/techprogram/session_6852.htm
Several papers on men and reproductive health were presented at the 2001
annual meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA). The abstracts
are available on the conference website .
Ask Noah About: Sexually Transmitted
Disease
www.noah-health.org
This website features an excellent collection of links to information about
protection from sexually transmitted diseases. NOAH is a collaboration of
four New York organizations and many information providers.
BBC Online's Men's Health
Page
www.bbc.co.uk/health/mens/
BBC Online's Men's Health Page includes basic information about men's health
issues, including diet, exercise, stress reduction, cancers, drug and alcohol
use, and depression.
Boys
and Puberty
www.plannedparenthood.org/TEENISSUES/TEENMAINHTM/Boys_an d_puberty.html
One-page discussion from boy's point of view about the changes in his body
published by Planned Parenthood (U.S.).
CIRP Circumcision Information and Resource
Page
www.cirp.org/
This non-profit group's website hosts technical and medical information
as well as education materials for parents and trainers on all aspects of
circumcision. The site is sponsored by Genital Integrity, which opposes
circumcision
FatherNet Children
www.cyfc.umn.edu/family/index.html
This website is produced by the Children, Youth and Family Consortium of
the University of Minnesota, and includes a page on family relationships
and parenting. There is provides information on the importance of fathers
and fathering and how fathers can be good parents and parent educators.
It includes research, policy, and opinion documents to inform users about
the factors that support and hinder men's involvement in the lives of children.
Father to Father is a national effort to unite men in the task of being
a strong and positive force in their children's lives. Focused on fathers
in the United States.
Healthfinder
www.healthfinder.gov/justforyou/
Healthfinder is a consumer-oriented website produced by the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services. It includes online publications, databases,
and links to government agencies and not-for-profit organizations that produce
information for the public. The men's health section provides information
on contraception, STI prevention, and other health-related issues.
Implementation Guide on
Reaching Men to Improve Reproductive and Sexual Health for All
www.jhuccp.org/igwg/
This guide captures the programmatic issues discussed at the Reaching Men
to Improve Reproductive Health for All international conference held in
Dulles, Virginia, September 15–18, 2003. The guide illustrates examples
of how to develop, implement, and evaluate reproductive health programs
that involve men in ways that promote gender equity and improve health
outcomes for men and women. Nine chapters mirror the
conference topics: (1)
Addressing Issues of Male Identity in Adolescent Men; (2) Policy
Initiatives and Strategies for Advocating the Involvement of Men in Reproductive
Health; (3) Involving Men in Reproductive Health Through Maternal & Child
Health; (4) Men's Right and Empowerment in Improving Women's Reproductive
Health; (5) Impact of Gender on Men's Health; (6) Successful Strategies
in Reaching Men; (7) Successful Approaches in Educating or Changing
Men's Attitudes; (8) Tools and Programs for Monitoring and Evaluation;
(9) Conclusion; (Annex) Sample KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices)
Survey. The guide was produced in 2004 for USAID's Interagency Gender Working
Group (IGWG) by the Health Communication Partnership (HCP) based at Johns
Hopkins
Bloomberg
School
of Public Health/Center
for
Communication
Programs. It can be viewed online or
downloaded as a PDF file at www.jhuccp.org/igwg/, or ordered on CD-ROM at
www.hcpartnership.org/Publications/.
InterWorld Radio
www.interworldradio.org
InterWorld Radio has produced a series of radio features focusing on young
men's role in the AIDS epidemic—one of the themes of this year's World
AIDS Day campaign. Boys'
Talk (www.interworldradio.org/audio/audio_series_details.asp?seriesid=8),
a series of five radio features from around the world, gives young men the
chance to talk freely about their attitudes toward sex, drugs, alcohol,
and girls as they grow up alongside the AIDS epidemic. Users can download
audio files and listen to the series online.
Mens Community Network
of New York City
www.mcnnyc.org/default.asp
The Men's Community Network (MCN) of New York City is a collaboration of
over 100 organizations committed to improving the health and well-being
of underserved men in NYC through the use of non-traditional mediums, such
as the Internet, and through intense and consistent communication with service
providers within and beyond the health field.
In June 2002, the MCN hosted its first conference on mens health and wellness in New York City. The conference brought together participants to raise awareness among health-service providers concerning mens health issues, share information on MCNs ongoing activities and projects, and help service providers improve their understanding and support for hard-to-reach populations. One of the workshop presentations, "Reaching Men with Clinical and Community-Based Services," can be downloaded from the "Download" section of the conference website at www.mcnnyc.org/Conference/Conference/index.htm.
National Cancer
Institute, Cancerlit—Male Reproductive Cancers
www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/literature
This resource offers a comprehensive list of citations and abstracts on
testicular, penile, and prostate cancer—including causes, clinical
trials, and treatment. It focuses on cancer research in the United States.
Reproline
www.reproline.jhu.edu/
An educational, nonprofit source of up-to-date information (reference materials
and presentation graphics) on selected reproductive health topics, including
family planning. maintained by the JHPIEGO Corporation. A search on "men"
reveals articles about men and reproductive health and service delivery
guidelines for contraceptives methods men can use, including female condoms,
male condoms, natural family planning, vasectomy, and withdrawal. In-depth
information about each of these methods can be found on the Reproline site.
