Overview
In the global arena, men are the major decision makers concerning health issues in the household. However, they have limited involvement in activities related to the care of their wives and newborns. This may be interpreted of not being informed about many details concerning reproductive health. The reproductive health programmes and services have traditionally served women and restricted men’s participation.
Male involvement or men’s participation is one of the ten elements of Reproductive Health. Based from reality, no baby will be formed without a sperm cell. Male involvement starts from planning to rearing and nurturing process of a child including taking care of the wife. While some family planning programmes have been interested in involving men for more than a decade, only recently, men's participation has become the focus of substantial attention. One important reason is a rising global concern over the rapid spread of HIV.
The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo, reminded the world audience that good reproductive health is the right of all people, men and women alike, and that together they share responsibility for reproductive matters. If men are left out of the reproductive health equation, they are unlikely to be able to exercise responsibility. The consensus reached in Cairo is that neither women nor men are likely to enjoy good reproductive health until couples are able to discuss sexual matters and make reproductive decisions together. It must also be emphasized that to promote the mandate of the UNFPA, men’s participation is needed.
Traditionally, family planning programs have viewed women as their primary clients for two reasons: 1) It is women who become pregnant; most contraceptive methods are designed for women; and 2) Reproductive health services can be offered conveniently as part of maternal and child health services. UNFPA recognizes the need to strengthen the RH advocacy that entails mobilization and empowerment of all sectors-including men.
UNFPA has partnered with national government agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) and non government organization such as Cooperative Movement for Encouraging NSV (CMEN) on the implementation of reproductive health-male involvement. The Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) was created by men who committed themselves to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. These men are from the government, private sector, academe and NGOs. MOVE paved the way to conduct intensive anti-VAW campaigns through Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) in several male-dominated government agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense (DND).
Through the commitment of leaders of the Maguindanao’s Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), the RH on Wheels was established in 1998 under the 5th CP. It began as an all-male advocacy group which was extended to other male groups including the tricycle drivers. The members casually discussed RH related issues with their passengers and the people waiting in tricycle terminals. Training was also conducted on the topics such as: FP, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), HIV and AIDS. Based on the success of this intervention, RH on wheels was replicated in the 6th CP in the province of Bohol.
As part of FP, through CMEN, the Non-Scapel Vasectomy (NSV) was promoted and performed the procedure among men in the pilot province of Bohol. They were 130 recipients of NSV as a result of intensive programme. The support of the Municipal Health Offices was catalytic in using innovative and practical approaches in promoting NSV. The midwives were instrumental in correcting myths and misconceptions by providing the correct knowledge on FP especially NSV.
Particularly urgent is the need to improve sexual responsibility among young men, including the availability of condom as part of prevention. Based on the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey 2002 (YAFS 3), sexual activity begins at a young age and before marriage. Addressing the needs of young men early as part of life-long attitudes and behavior pattern formation has a long-term impact.










