Manual for Male Circumcision under Local Anaesthesia

Male circumcision under local anaesthesia Version 2.5C (Jan08)
• Services for men may be offered in existing clinic-based
services.
• Separate services may be established to provide information,
education and counselling on sexuality, physiological
development, family planning, STIs and HIV, genital health and
hygiene, interpersonal communication, and sexual and
reproductive behaviour.
• Special services may be established to offer diagnosis and
treatment of sexual dysfunction, STIs and HIV, cancer of the
prostate, testis and penis, and medical indications for male
circumcision.
Other approaches include:
• community-based distribution and social marketing of
condoms;
• reaching men with information and services through the
workplace, the military and men’s groups;
• special outreach campaigns to young men;
• educational campaigns through the media;
• special initiatives, such as outreach through football matches
or other popular sporting events;
• promotion of vasectomy.
Because gender inequality has a strong influence on women’s sexual
and reproductive health, programme managers need to consider the
needs and perspectives of men, women and young people. It is also
important to use gender-related and gender-disaggregated indicators
when evaluating programmes.
MEN'S ROLE IN WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH
Men can influence women’s health in numerous ways. 4 As husbands,
boyfriends, fathers, brothers, and friends, men can have a positive
effect on women’s health by:
• preventing the spread of STIs by using condoms consistently and
correctly and supporting and encouraging regular condom use by
others;
• using, or supporting the use by partners, of contraception, so that
women are better able to control the number and timing of their
pregnancies;
• supporting women during pregnancy, childbirth and the
postpartum period;
• supporting women to take decisions about their health without
reference to their partner;
• responding to the physical and emotional needs of women
following abortion;
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Male circumcision under local anaesthesia Version 2.5C (Jan08)
• refraining from, and encouraging others to avoid, all forms of
violence against women and girls;
• working to end harmful sexual practices, such as female genital
mutilation and “dry sex”;
• sharing financial resources with women, and supporting the notion
of shared property rights;
• supporting women’s full participation in civil society, including their
access to social, political and educational opportunities, many of
which have a direct or indirect impact on women’s health;
• supporting the rights of daughters to the same health care,
education, and respect as sons.
Who should provide sexual and reproductive health services and
information to boys and men?
A wide range of people and organizations can provide sexual and
reproductive health services and information to boys and men. Some
of the key providers are listed below. 5
• Parents. Ideally, boys and young men should receive information
and basic education on sexual and reproductive health from their
parents. However, available data suggest that less than half of
boys and young men discuss HIV/AIDS, STIs or family planning
with their parents
• Teachers. Many adolescent boys now receive some education on
health, family life and sexuality in school. However, for some, the
instruction comes after they have begun having sexual
•
intercourse.
Peers. Boys and men of all ages often get information on sexual
and reproductive issues from their peers. Much of this information,
however, may be inaccurate. One approach is to educate key
youth leaders, who can then pass on accurate information to their
peers. This has to be an ongoing process, to reach each new
generation or group of young men.
• Community-based organizations. Places of worship and youth
groups are important sources of information, and also provide an
opportunity for counselling and skill-building in relation to sexuality,
relationships, marriage and parenting. Unfortunately, in some
cases, the only method taught for preventing pregnancy and STIs
is sexual abstinence, despite the fact that young people find it
difficult to adhere to abstinence. As a result, they may not know
how to protect themselves from risk when they become sexually
active.
6, 7
• Family planning clinics. Some family planning clinics reach out
to men, particularly to the partners of their female clients. The
availability of male health care providers and separate consultation
sessions for men may encourage men to use these services.
Although family planning clinics have a long history of providing
both medical and counselling services, many men see them as
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