Launched today, The Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Package for Men and Adolescent Boys – developed by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) – is the first comprehensive package focused on supporting providers of men’s sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Authored by Equimundo’s Vice President of Advocacy and Partnerships Tim Shand, the resource aims to improve the range and quality of available SRH services in order to meet the specific and diverse needs of men and adolescent boys and to promote gender-transformative approaches to engaging men in health and equality.
The global package brings an inclusive approach to sexual and reproductive health, covering positive expression of gender, sex, and sexuality in addition to disease prevention. The resource focuses specifically on the provision of such services integrated within clinical and non-clinical contexts and outlines a gender-transformative approach, working to promote universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Rigid gender norms and harmful ideas around what it means to be a man have significant consequences on health and wellbeing, including on women’s lack of autonomy over SRH decision-making and burden of contraceptive use. Engaging men and adolescent boys in promoting women’s choices and advancing gender equality can promote more equitable and healthier individuals, relationships, and communities.
Due to poor health-seeking behavior – fueled by masculine norms of self-sufficiency – and lack of access, men often do not receive critical SRH services such as contraception and the prevention and treatment of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and male cancers. Improving diverse SRH services to effectively address men’s access and engagement will benefit their own and their partner’s health, and is part of a comprehensive gender-transformative approach to SRHR.
The full Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Package for Men and Adolescent Boys is available online here.