Male role in reproductive health: assessment of some perceptions and behaviors among husbands and wives

ABSTRACT

Male involvement has been recognized as an essential element for any effective reproductive health strategy. Health planners especially in oriental communities need to find appropriate models for serving men reproductive health promotion of the whole family. However, information about male role in different cultural contexts is lacking. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the participants perception about selected reproductive health issues, as well as identification and acknowledgement of the positive traditional male practices along various reproductive phases. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in one of the Cairo Urban Health Centers among 253 married males and 149 married females. A detailed interview was designed to cover the participants’ knowledge and behaviors regarding the pubertal, postmenopausal changes, sexually transmitted infections and the males’ role in ANC. The results revealed that the participants’ perceptions were defective in a majority of the essential reproductive health issues. However, the male participants were found to be more knowledgeable than females. The study realized that the interest in male involvement in ANC is widespread among both male and female participants. Also, some positive male behaviors for the support of ANC practice were recognized in nearly two thirds of the study participants. The study recommended adopting innovative approaches to bridge the knowledge gap in reproductive health issues. Collection and dissemination of the best traditional practice could be used as a tool to increase male involvement for the sake of whole family