Since 2004, JOICFP has been executing the UNFPA-supported Asia Regional Project "Increasing Male Involvement for RH through Effective BCC Strategies" (RAS5R304) in Indonesia, Mongolia and Myanmar.
The project aims to support the ICPD goals and MDGs by tackling the high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the project areas by increasing the role men play in supporting women’s health.
Indonesia
Male motivators are key to the project, and include government staff, religious leaders, teachers and influential villagers.
These motivators have revived a community savings scheme for pregnancy and delivery, and have facilitated a community taskforce to assist in cases needing emergency referrals. The project site in Indonesia is a rural, hilly area where transportation is difficult. Emergency referrals are therefore essential in protecting mother’s lives during delivery.
The motivators also strive to deliver RH messages, and they convey messages to men through community radio, music, home visits, and special events.
At the community radio station
Religious leaders have taken training to include RH messages in sermons as well, and information is delivered at Friday prayers on "how to be a good father," for example.
One male motivator’s story
Wahyudi, 31, is a male motivator in Anjantan Baru village in Indramayu District, West Java.
The village faces problems of violence against women, and human trafficking, apart from high maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.
Having received training from the local implementing partner, Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA), Wahyudi advocates to the local government on the above issues.
He also delivers RH messages to men at the work place and anywhere else they gather to effectively reach men living in his village.
He also assists people in applying for government insurance and other benefits to which they are entitled.
As a result of the male motivators’ activities, traditional birth attendant deliveries have decreased, while midwife attended delivery and antenatal care have increased.
Wahyudi knows that changing knowledge, attitudes and practice will take time, but he also knows it is happening.
Wahyudi prepares to go round the village
to deliver RH information
Mongolia
The project site in Mongolia is an urban area in the outskirts of the capital, Ulaanbaatar.
Many rural migrants have come here, and poverty, unemployment, and lack of registration for social services are issues.
A unique aspect of the project locally implemented by the National Center for Health Development, Ministry of Health, is that male educators work with local government : the government officials provide information on Social welfare for new arrivals, and then the male motivators discuss RH issues.
This is how the male educators attract men to reach more targeted men.
A male educator talks to men
about women’s reproductive health
By assisting men with issues they are concerned about, male educators are more easily able to deliver RH messages to them.
After receiving information on male RH, men then become more interested in women and children’s health.
The project also benefits from TV advertising and billboards that tie in together.
Some of the outcomes of the project activities include more husbands attending antenatal care and family planning sessions.
A husband accompanies his wife
during an antenatal check
Myanmar
Here, the project is in a semi-urban area, and TV and the ‘picture theatre’ are used to deliver emotion based behavior change communication.
"Twin Angels" is a TV drama showing how positive male action can save mothers’ lives. The same story has been made into a picture theatre and is used by health promoters in the project area, both being developed by the Central Health Education Bureau, Ministry of Health.
A Frontline Health Promoter explains to men
what is needed for safe delivery
Frontline Health Promoters, who are trained with basic knowledge on reproductive health and communication skills, are able to deliver information on safe motherhood, family planning, STIs, HIV/AIDS, and effectively use the picture theatre and other BCC tools to generate discussion.
The community depends on the promoters, who have gained prestige through their activities.
The project, implemented locally by the Myanmar Medical Association (MMA), has seen a rise in deliveries with skilled birth attendants and a greater number of timely referrals.
At a teashop, many men gather to watch
the picture theatre Twin Angels on
how men can help save women's lives
during and after pregnancy
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