Gender:
Healthy Images of Manhood (HIM) Approach

Why work with men in reproductive health/family planning (RH/FP)?

This gender focus responds to research showing that many men:

• Feel pressured to prove their masculinity by having sex at
  an early age with many partners
• Lack accurate information on RH/FP, and are reluctant to seek information or services
• Lack knowledge on how to prevent unplanned pregnancy or illness
• Are unsure how to address the health needs of their children or partners or how to act as care givers
• Expect to control the behavior of women, especially their sexuality

Gender—the way women and men are socialized and expected to behave and act—greatly influences health and well-being. In particular, the attitudes, knowledge, and behavior of men strongly influence their health and the health of women and children. The Extending Service Delivery (ESD) has developed a program called Healthy Images of Manhood (HIM) that is intended to help men assume responsible sexual and reproductive health behaviors. Improving men’s understanding of and involvement in RH/FP has positive implications for improving the overall reproductive health of communities.   

HIM is a practical, cost-effective and sustainable approach to reach men. It strengthens local capacity and builds a critical mass of male champions to act as change agents and model healthier sexual reproductive health behaviors, including seeking health care services; being supportive, caring and involved partners/husbands and fathers; and adopting healthy and non-violent means to respond to conflict. The knowledge and skills that young and adult men gain from HIM can help them adopt healthier lifestyles and support the health needs and choices of their partners/wives.

HIM encompasses a training workshop and the development of action plans; a supportive supervision system to create an enabling environment for the implementation and monitoring of outreach educational activities; on-going monthly continuing education/training sessions; and a communication and monitoring and evaluation system.

Who is HIM for?

HIM can be implemented in multiple venues, including the private sector, schools, the workplace, churches/mosques, and health care facilities for both women and men. It is especially appropriate for any type of peer or community outreach program that is seeking to reach men with reproductive health, postpartum, family planning (including Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy), or HIV information, to achieve positive behavioral change.

How does ESD implement HIM?

ESD works in partnership with NGOs, businesses and government to develop and implement HIM programs, following a three-step process:

• Situational/Gender Analysis—to gather and analyze data related to the health behaviors, knowledge and gender norms; to identify the target groups; and to prioritize key issues. Through site visits, individual and group interviews and a review of documents, ESD will recommend a menu of strategies for implementing HIM.
• Program Design—working in partnership, ESD designs the program based on the situational analysis and adapts it to the local context, needs of the clients and their available resources and skills.
• Implementation—ESD works with its partners to develop an action plan for implementation, which includes clearly assigned roles and responsibilities. ESD provides training and technical support to the overall implementation of the activity.