This paper will present the results of a project designed to develop and promote sexual and reproductive health (S&RH) services for young men attending the socio/cultural/health programs of a samba school in Brazil. The project represents a partnership between BEMFAM, the Brazilian IPPF affiliate, and the samba school “Academicos de Salgueiro”, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This project, using a baseline survey, focus groups and other techniques, will develop and adapt culturally sensitive materials to promote S&RH involvement with a gender perspective. Materials will be tested and results will be analyzed. The project will test service provision strategies, including condom distribution, through peers, clinical settings and other community service posts. Measuring increases in the percentages of service users and contraceptives distributed, among other indicators, will allow the project to test the effectiveness of strategies. Group discussions will take place and training will be provided to selected youths to enable them to act as multipliers. Numbers of trainings, multipliers trained and increases in knowledge and skills will be documented. Information and education will be provided to health personnel from the samba school projects. After the end of the project the samba school personnel will be in a position to continue the projects activities. The results can serve as a model for other samba schools, (a very important movement in Brazil) and more broadly, for other groups working with low-income young men.
Learning Objectives: -Identify basic steps to develop and implement informational/educational materials with a gender perspective and that are culturally appropriate for young men of low-income communities. -Identify the most effective strategies to increase use of sexual and reproductive health services, including use of condoms and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (S&RH) rights, among young males of low-income communities. -Identify strategies that contribute to an increase in knowledge of human sexuality, gender and S&RH rights among health professionals working with low-income young men
Keywords: Adolescents, Male Reproductive Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: BEMFAM, Brazilian member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Western Hemisphere Region, Inc
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: EMPLOYEE OF BEMFAM, IPPF MEMBER