The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62554

Sharif Mohammed Ismail Hossain, MBBS MPH¹, Ubaidur Rob, Ph D², and Md Nizamuddin¹. (1) Popualtion Council, House #CES(B) 21, Road #118, Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 880-2-8821227/8826657, drsharif@pcdhaka.org, (2) Bangladesh Country Office, Population Council Asia & Near East Region, House CES (B) 21, Road 118, Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

The existing women-focused family planning service delivery system in Bangladesh offers little scope for addressing the reproductive health (RH) needs of men although male are at risk of various RH problems. This article presents the findings from a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group operations research intended to integrate male RH services at the community level. Interventions continued for 10 months. Data were collected from both before and after interventions using FGDs, baseline survey, exit client interviews, end line survey and service statistics. The study shows that both male and female RH services can be given from the same center. There is no need of extra or separate time for male. Service statistics show that a total of 8291 males attended in eight Family Welfare Centers over a period of 10 months compared to less than 3269 before the intervention. Attendance for RTI/STI services has increased from 44 to 261, about 6 times higher after the intervention. Moreover, numbers of female clients have also increased during the intervention period. It is revealed that most of the men visited the FWCs motivated by group meeting and/or by BCC campaign. The study findings suggest while service providers become very busy with the clients load, the female clients do not feel any inconvenience due to presence of male clients. However, to cope up with the increasing number of clients, appropriate and enough medicine should be available at the service delivery sites.

Learning Objectives:

• understand best strategy to integrate STI services for men in a women focused service delivery point,
• how male can be motivate to use RH services
• do women feel uncomfortable in the presence of male clients?
• what should be available to cope up with increased number of clients

Keywords: STD, Male Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.