Impact of Involving Men in Family Planning

Bringing a sustainable improvement and development calls for both male and female to equally participate and use their fullest potential to live and build a more balanced society. In patriarchal society, where male dominance deprives women of power and decision making, women will not be in a position to reverse a significant inch of the problem let alone changing the entire course of the deep-rooted traditional gender norms. This calls for a new approach to target both women and men. Since ICPD 1994, the men perspective of gender work in health care provision has been emphasized. The new approach works for transformation of the gender division and roles. In other words it appreciates difference and uses these differences to bring quality of life for all. Men involvement in family planning have a multiple advantage in promoting shared reproductive decision making such as contraceptive usage, fertility desire and intention, as well mutual responsibility in house chores and child caring. It also play important role bringing gender equality by promoting mutual respect, consent and shared responsibility for sexual behavior and its consequences and improve women's health.