Introduction
Male engagement in family planning refers to any organizational initiatives explicitly targeted at men to boost family planning acceptance and uptake among both sexes. It includes males participating in decision-making, approving, or encouraging their spouse to use family planning. Family planning is the deliberate choice made by an individual or couple to reduce or space the number of children they have through contraceptive methods. It has a number of advantages, such as improved maternal and child health, educational advancements, and the empowerment of women through their career aspirations and control over their fertility desires.
Health issues related to reproduction, motherhood, and children are prioritized in sustainable development goals and cannot be achieved without family planning. Men's participation in family planning is one of the most important public policy interventions to accomplish national and sustainable development goals. Women encounter several challenges, such as a lack of knowledge and healthcare resources, resistance from their spouses and communities, and misconceptions regarding side effects. The main reasons that women choose not to use contraception while wanting to do so are opposition to family planning from their spouses or men's lack of engagement in family planning.
What Is Family Planning?
Family planning refers to a conscious effort made by couples to manage the number of children and birth spacing. It seeks to enhance family life at the micro level, and at the macro level, it supports sustainable efforts. Reduced unwanted pregnancies and population control are achieved through family planning.
-
One of family planning's direct and indirect advantages is the decrease in the transmission of HIV to newborn children.
-
Decrease in morbidity and death among pregnant women.
-
Neonatal, baby, and child mortality decline.
-
Reduce reliance on frequently dangerous abortions.
-
Increased educational and professional options for women who can put off starting a family.
What Are the Side Effects of Female Contraceptive Methods?
The perceived adverse effects of contraceptive techniques, which were blamed for lowering sexual pleasure and raising women's chances of infertility and disease, were a regularly reported deterrent among males from supporting their partner's usage of contraceptive methods. Many adverse symptoms, most notably irregular and protracted bleeding, dry vaginal skin, and declines in sexual desire or libido, have been noted as frustrating by men. It was believed that excessive bleeding, in particular, had a negative impact on marriages since it was thought that women who lost a lot of blood were generally exhausted and had less desire for sex. The fact that there are fewer possibilities for males to have sex with their spouse was another reason for the bleeding. The development of extramarital relationships was considered motivated by and preceded by this.
Why Is Male Involvement in Family Planning Necessary?
To promote both men's and women's sexual and reproductive health by addressing men's difficulties; to satisfy men's sexual and reproductive needs, including contraceptive requirements; and to increase communication and encourage dialogue between partners about their sexual and reproductive health.
1. Men have their concerns and requirements about sexual and reproductive health, which are not always satisfied. The emphasis on male engagement only as a way of improving women's reproductive health may lead to men's reproductive health needs being overlooked. Men are unaware of their physiology and health, particularly sexual and reproductive health, due to gender roles.
2. Men's behaviors and health conditions impact women's reproductive and general health. Their understanding, acceptance, and support of their partners' needs, preferences, and rights rise when they are involved. It entails urging men to support their spouses who use female-dependent methods of contraception more. All measures of HIV prevention are controlled by men, except for the female condom. According to the ICPD (International Conference on Population and Development), men must accept the major responsibility for preventing sexually transmitted diseases.
3. Many decisions relating to reproductive health and family planning are made within a framework of gender relations that impact those decisions or how they are carried out. Additionally, every form of family planning and most STD and HIV prevention strategies are usually classified as male- or female-only. More consideration should be given to determining the degree to which each approach calls for the support and cooperation of both sexes, as well as how this may affect the sexual and physical well-being of both partners.
4. Many decisions relating to family planning and reproductive health are made within a framework of gender relations that either influence or influence the decisions. Additionally, every form of family planning and most STD and HIV prevention strategies are usually classified as male- or female-only. More emphasis should be placed on determining the extent to which each approach necessitates the cooperation and support of both sexes, as well as the ramifications for both spouses' health and sexual connection.
What Are the Barriers to Male Involvement in Family Planning?
Due to cultural and traditional variations, there are different restrictions on male involvement in different nations. Financial limitations and a lack of knowledge about family planning approaches were considered impediments to male participation. Some current female family planning techniques are expensive, which tends to discourage males from participating. Additionally, some men's engagement is affected to the same degree because they lack knowledge or information concerning family planning.
Some participants said that their cultural practices forbade them from participating in family planning. They assert that family planning is a woman's activity in their culture and that there is no reason for men to become engaged.
When the partners utilize family planning techniques, they experience adverse effects, including trouble becoming pregnant and unwelcome weight gain. When they use condoms, they do not have sexual satisfaction. The unfriendliness of healthcare professionals, their lack of expertise, and the difficulty in obtaining healthcare facilities in certain locations were some of the hurdles healthcare providers and healthcare institutions faced.
Conclusion
Male engagement in family planning refers to organizational initiatives explicitly targeted at men to enhance both sexes' acceptance and uptake of family planning. Despite mounting indications that males play a larger role in encouraging couples to use family planning, there has been some success, particularly in rural regions. Both men and women must make decisions about reproductive health. A growing body of research indicates that including men in family planning may boost women's use of contraceptives.
