Male participation in promoting sexual and reproductive health agenda in Africa: Reflections on social change and democracy

Abstract

This paper examines male participation programs designed to improve sexual and reproductive health in Africa. It uses male participation as a model for larger development, democracy and good governance outcomes in African countries. The paper begins by exploring the conceptual and programmatic underpinnings for men engagement, male involvement, male mobilization or male partnership in development. It presents results from a case study on the Male Championship’s initiative implemented to mobilize men in support of the Prevention of Mother-to- Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in Malawi. The paper demonstrates that male participation programs integrate a robust approach to social mobilization, coalition building, community advocacy, midstream consultations, peer-to peer motivation, collective visioning and client communication, which result in changes at the individual, facility and social levels. The paper suggests the design and execution of male participation grounded in human rights based approach to program for wider development agenda and good governance initiatives in Africa.`

Keywords: social mobilization, male engagement, social change, reproductive health, gender equality, social innovation