ការចូលរួមរបស់បុរសនៅក្នុងកម្មវិធីពន្យារកំណើត

Описание: Some men identify family planning as a “woman’s responsibility”. There are many reasons for this, but two of the main ones include the fact that most contraceptives are female-centered, and historically, most reproductive health and family planning interventions have targeted women. However, studies have shown that actively involving men in reproductive health programs increases the likelihood of effectiveness. Including both men and women in the conversation about family planning increases shared decision making and can allow for increased awareness and knowledge within each couple. Couples who have discussions about FP are more likely to use contraception and have fewer children. Ultimately, it helps to empower both men and women to take control of their reproductive and economic future.

In 2019, PHB completed the “High responsibility for healthy lives: PHB gender analysis & action plan”. Through their analysis PHB found that gender roles can exist as a “source of pressure for many men and limit women’s agency, time, and leadership”. They also found that women’s decision-making power has increased, with respect to the family, but there was still a need for more male engagement in relation to family planning. Data also showed that “unmarried women, particularly in the provinces, face restraints on their freedom of movement and contraceptive knowledge due to norms that say they should be protected”. There were also mixed findings on the decisions related to family planning, with half of the focus groups saying that “women and men discuss childbearing and decide together, but others report these decisions are more directed by men”.

Given this gender and family planning landscape, it was important to the PHB team to design interventions that were inclusive and encouraged dialogue that increased women’s agency. Thus, the “Heart Protector” and “Loving Relationship” interventions were designed to integrate both men and women into family planning activities. The goal of integration was to facilitate discussions about women’s negotiating power and to normalize couples’ communication about family planning. The goal is to bring awareness and to start a conversation about modern contraceptive methods, but also about reproductive intentions, family size, and planning a couple’s future in general.

As of project fiscal year 2023, PHB had reached 105,560 individuals (including 66,849 men) through its community events. During 2023 alone, PHB’s interventions reached 20,970 men via its family planning-related community events.

PHB continuously monitors and assesses its interventions, making course corrections along the way based on qualitative and quantitative data. During a recent assessment of message recall of program messages, the PHB team found that:
• After being exposed to the PHB activity 60% of respondents (N=1,197) reported having had a conversation with their partner about family planning. Of those who reported having had a conversation (n=717), 67% of them were men.
• Among the individuals exposed to the PHB activity who reported having discussed "family planning and modern contraceptive use" with their partner, 78% (n=559) reported that they were the ones who initiated the conversation. Among them, 64% were male respondents.
• Of the individuals who discussed "family planning and modern contraceptive use" with their partner, 41% reported having discussed this topic with other persons as well.