By Upama Aktaruzzaman, BA
As an MCHLT scholar with a particular focus on sexual and reproductive health education, one of my favorite sessions at this year’s APHA in Boston was presented by a panel of men and women working together to integrate young men in sexual and reproductive health education. The Session was called “Come on Baby, Don’t Say Maybe” and the presenters spoke on the history of men’s sexual and reproductive health awareness campaigns, such as the images of “pregnant” teenaged men that were prevalent in the 90’s, and to more current strategies at men’s health integration by creating “men friendly clinics.”
This is a topic where there is a particular dearth of research and resources, and even in my studies I hadn’t considered the importance of integrating men’s education. Often times in research, men are seen as a barrier in developing countries to accessing reproductive/sexual health education and care by women. Rather than perceiving men in the negative light, they need to be made allies, and educated in how family planning is important for the entire family, as well as seeking care for STIs.
Another related aspect is an organization I came across during the Expo that is based in San Francisco. The organization is called Healthy Futures and is focused on emotional as well as biological aspects of sexual health education, and was a multi-year program, which could be implemented at schools, and was developmentally appropriate. It was geared at both boys and girls, to contemplate the consequences and significance of sex incorporated into traditional sexual and reproductive health education.
Going to APHA widened my view of MCH to include young men into the conversation to improve maternal and child health overall. It introduced me to new ways approaching sexual and reproductive health education to include emotional components, which is just as much a part of the package of leading a healthy life as the physiological aspect.
Upama Aktaruzzaman is a second-year MPH student and MCHLT Scholar, concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. She plans to graduate in May 2014.
