Empowering Her, Health for All

In partnership with The Challenge Initiative (TCI), we are proud to share stories that illustrate the positive impact that family planning has on women and low-income communities around the world. Published monthly, these stories aim to capture the perspectives of women and their communities that benefit from TCI’s efforts and the dedicated individuals working to empower women with access to family planning. 

Patrick Baraza is the District Health Officer in Busia Municipality (Uganda). His job focuses on the community’s physical and emotional well-being, but he faces big challenges in his own life. 

"I am a father to 28 children – seven of my own and 21 others of my late two brothers," said Patrick. "This number is almost a full clan, and these children are a burden to me. If I had come across {family planning} earlier before having children, I would be very happy." 

Historically, men have been less engaged with family planning and reproductive health topics. However, given the negative impact that having children too early or having too many children can have, there is a great need for men to join the conversation. Beyond supporting their female partners in adopting and maintaining contraceptive use, men can advance family planning into a two-way dialogue that guides couples to make responsible decisions. 

Through its advocacy and community engagement efforts, TCI recognizes the need to close this gap. The initiative is amplifying its partnerships with local governments and health organizations to encourage men to use and advocate for family planning services. By dispelling myths, normalizing the topic, and showcasing the range of choices and resources available, TCI and its cohorts are empowering a new audience to shape a brighter future for young men and women around the world.  
 

Social stereotypes have shaped the modern landscape. Not surprisingly, most family planning programs are female-oriented. In many cultures, women are considered child bearers and raisers, and have assumed the onus of family planning. Likewise, men are often reluctant to discuss family planning, pursue resources or even visit local health facilities, as many feel this could threaten their masculine image. 

TCI and its partners understand that empowering men and disrupting these long-held norms will require changes. For example, men in the Uttar Pradesh state of India feared that sterility procedures would limit their ability to do physical and manual work. The TCI partnership launched a targeted campaign to demystify this belief with language and programs aimed at laborers, including the delivery of resources, materials and health counseling directly to their workplaces.

Male engagement also requires a different approach and tactics from those that work with women. More specifically, TCI uncovered that men are more likely to talk freely about family planning in a group setting as opposed to when they are approached alone. A campaign in Bauchi State, Nigeria brought information sessions and group dialogue to more "natural and comfortable" male congregation points, such as sporting facilities and evening meet-up spots. Just one month after the campaign's launch, the State reported a 67 percent uptake in male condom usage.