Online Program

290418
Integrating male reproductive health services: One university health clinic story


Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.

Ainat Koren, PhD RN, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Robert Hynes, PhD, Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA
Mary Giannetti, Montachusett Opportunity Council, Inc, Fitchburg, MA
Martha Favre, FNP, Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA
Curtis Lopes, Montachusett Opportunity Council, Inc, Fitchburg, MA
Attending college/university opens a new chapter in a young man's life, and with it comes new experiences and freedoms. Young adult males in particular are prone to risky behaviors as a result of peer pressure that can affect their health. Specifically, reproductive and sexual health is compromised in this age group.Young adult males have a knowledge deficit and naivety towards reproductive health and the important aspects that can affect their lives. Historically, reproductive health (RH) services have predominantly served women. Young men have significant reproductive health concerns, e.g., sexually transmitted infections (STI); male sexual health and behaviors directly affect their female partners' health, RH decisions about the preventing unintended pregnancies. DHHS Office of Family Planning (OFP), in partnership with five agencies and one research-coordinating center, has implemented a four-year a comprehensive service delivery model to increase the number of males accessing FP/RH services. This paper will describe a university site in western Massachusetts implementing male reproductive health in a university clinic. The service innovation model includes: 1) restructuring the clinic environment (physical setting, materials, and internet presence); 2) staff training; and 3) Campus outreach Data collected shows success in out/in reach contributing to substantial increase of men utilizing the clinic for reproductive health purposes. The key lessons learned are: (1) Changes in clinic environment and staff training are essential, (2) Reaching young men requires creative innovations and activity geared interventions, and (3) focused outreach were more successful than campus wide outreach.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the male model clinic initiative at a university clinic. Discuss the specific challenges and changes to implementing a service for reproductive health for men at a college clinic.

Keyword(s): Male Reproductive Health, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I'm the program evaluator for this project
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.