当前位置： SCI文献检索 > HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING期刊下所有文献 > Reproductive health and AIDS prevention in sub-Saharan Africa: the case for increased male participation.

Reproductive health and AIDS prevention in sub-Saharan Africa: the case for increased male participation.

Abstract：

:Reproduction is a dual commitment, but so often in much of the world, it is seen as wholly the woman's responsibility. She bears the burden not only of pregnancy and childbirth but also the threats from excessive child bearing, some responsibility for contraception, infertility investigation and often undiagnosed sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including AIDS. Failure to target men in reproductive health interventions has weakened the impact of reproductive health care programmes. The paper proposes that sophisticated and dynamic strategies in Africa and elsewhere which target women's reproductive health and research (such as control of STDs including AIDS, family planning, infertility investigation) require complementary linkage to the study and education of men. Men's perceptions, as well as determinants of sexual behavioural change and the socioeconomic context in which STDs, including AIDS, become rife, should be reviewed. There is a need to study and foster change to reduce or prevent poor reproductive health outcomes; to identify behaviours which could be adversely affecting women's reproductive health. Issues of gender, identity and tolerance as expressed through sexuality and procreation need to be amplified in the context of present risks in reproductive health. Researchers and providers often ignore the social significance of men. This paper reviews the impact of male dominance, as manifested through reproductive health and sexual decisions, against the background of present reproductive health problems. A research agenda should define factors at both macro and micro levels that interact to adversely impinge on reproductive health outcomes. This should be followed up by well-developed causal models of the determinants of positive reproductive health-promoting behaviours. Behaviour specific influences in sexual partnership include the degree of interpersonal support towards prevention, for example, of STDs, unwanted pregnancy or maternal deaths. Perceived efficacy and situational variables influencing male compliance in, say, condom use, form part of the wider study that addresses men. Thus preventive reproductive health initiatives and information should move from the female alone to both sexes. Women need men as partners in reproductive health who understand the risks they might be exposed to and strategies for their prevention. :In Sub-Saharan Africa, reproductive health care research and interventions as well as AIDS prevention and STD (sexually transmitted disease) control programs all place a disproportionate emphasis on women and ignore the equally important role of men. STD risk and incidence increased in the region as labor migration of husbands became necessary and the number of sexual partners for both men and women increased. In many cases, the sex behavior of married men is the main risk factor for their wives. Research into STDs and HIV has provided what is known about male sexual behavior, and AIDS has highlighted the importance of behavior in disease transmission and contraception. While HIV risk awareness is increasing, few men report condom use or appropriate changes in their behavior to minimize their risk. The female bias in family planning (FP) programs ignores the fact that in this setting men often control the contraceptive usage of their wives and adolescent children. Inclusion of men in counseling programs has led to an increase in contraceptive usage among their wives, and some data suggest that men are susceptible to change initial biases against FP. FP programs that offer infertility services are also more likely to be accepted, and whereas the women are usually blamed by their husbands for infertility, the husbands in infertile couples should be examined first. Research into sexual relationships, sex behavior, condom acceptance, and cultural constructs surrounding STD and HIV transmission is necessary and should be accomplished using a wide range of data collection methods.

journal_name

Health Policy Plan

journal_title

Health policy and planning

authors

Mbizvo MT,Bassett MT

doi

10.1093/heapol/11.1.84

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

1996-03-01 00:00:00

pages

84-92

issue

eissn

0268-1080

issn

1460-2237

journal_volume

pub_type

杂志文章

在线工具

Reproductive health and AIDS prevention in sub-Saharan Africa: the case for increased male participation.