The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49662

Leila Caleb Varkey, ScD¹, Dale Huntington, ScD², Anurag Mishra, PhD³, Anjana Das, MBBS, DCH³, Emma Ottolenghi, MD², John W Townsend, PhD⁴, and Susan E. Adamchak, PhD⁵. (1) Population Council, Sangha Rachana, 53 Lodi Estate, New Delhi, 110003, India, 91-11-4649047, lvarkey@pcindia.org, (2) Frontiers in Reproductive Health, Population Council, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 280, Washington, DC 20008, (3) FRONTIERS, Population Council, New Delhi, 53 Lodi Estate, New Delhi, New DELHI, 110003, India, (4) Population Council, Frontiers in Reproductive Heath, 4301 Connecticut Avenue,NW, Suite 280, Washington, DC, DC 20008, (5) The Population Council, Family Health International, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 280, Washington, DC 20008

Current research on family planning decision-making in India shows a mismatch with actual service provision. While services concentrate on women with female only methods, studies show that decision making still remains in the hands of male partners or family elders. The lack of proper communication and inter-spousal discussion on Family Planning and reproductive matters is often sited as a major reason for non-acceptance of contraception.

The Men in Maternity (MiM) study, underway in New Delhi in collaboration with the Employees State Insurance Corporation of India is using a quasi-experimental design to test an intervention which creates an environment in primary health facilities where men are welcomed to attend antenatal and postnatal clinics with their wives or partners. It is believed that men’s participation will enhance their understanding of their wives’/partners reproductive health needs during pregnancy and in the postpartum period and promote discussions on FP and reproductive health matters.

This presentation will examine husbands and wives pre-intervention responses to questions about their attitude towards future childbearing, and on their intention to use a family planning method in postpartum period, besides discussing differences in male female responses on STI and HIV/AIDS related knowledge.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participants will be able to

• Discuss the differences in husbands and wives responses on key family plannign use issues in the sample population.
• Develop an understanding of the ways in which men and women report family Planning decision making in the study population.
• Recognize differences in knowledge of STIs and preventive behaviours of men and women identify areas where couple communication can influence reproductive health decision making positively among the study population.

Keywords: Communication, Family Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Populatoin Council- FRONTIERS in Reproductive Health Program's Men in Maternity Study
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed by Population Council, on a project funded by USAID