Involving the Other Gender Men’s Insights into Women Reproductive Health and Rights in Woliso Town
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Date
2007-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Reproductive health and rights are affected by societal norms and value systems that indicate ideal behaviors for men and women, and therefore, it is a gender issue. Much of the responsibilities of reproductive health lie on women. On the other hand, reproductive and sexual rights are in the hands of men. In most instances issues relating to reproductive health are left for women, and men participation and involvement has been given little attention. Therefore, the current study is an outcome of men’s insights into their involvement and women-men partnership in reproductive health and rights in Woliso town. The target population comprised men of different ages in Woliso town. Focus group discussion, in-depth interviews, observation and survey questionnaires were used to gather quantitative and qualitative information.
Generally, the results of both data sources revealed that there is low men’s involvement and absence of focusing on men in reproductive health and rights issues. The study highlights the positive tendencies on the part of the respondents to change the gender stereotypes related to reproductive health. The study disclosed that partnership in RH could be formed through empowering women and increasing the power within men, and also found out that men’s involvement could have multiple advantage in promoting reproductive decision-making such as sexuality, contraceptive prevalent rate, family planning, and fertility decision-making as well as in combating gender-based violence. The existing opportunities such as family, community networks, the efforts excreted by Gos and NGOs, and religions are identified as social capital in facilitating and promoting men’s involvement and partnership in the issues raised.
The study concludes by highlighting the multi advantage of involving men in reproductive health and right issues, and suggests as to how men could involve and partnership between them could be established and strengthened. The study further suggests that there is a need for programs that would involve men and change their attitude towards gender and reproductive health and rights issues and motivate them to be partners. To this end, proper socialization of boys and girls and facilitating discourse among men and women upon gender and reproductive matters, promoting health IEC extension prorammes are identified as a way to resolve the imbalance power relationships between the sexes, and ultimately to ensure gender equity and equality
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Gender Studies