State of World Population 2012 - UNFPA Haiti

Many institutions, providers, and civil societyorganizations must, however, still overcome thepersistent, common perception that boys andmen are merely disinterested in family planning.Men and boys are often trained from anearly age to view fertility matters as women’sresponsibility. And even when men do want toplay more of a role, they are often sidelined byservices. Research into the ways gender normsinfluence boys and men has challenged stereotypesabout their attitudes and behaviours,highlighting opportunities for health promotionand efforts to achieve gender equality.Men’s sexual behaviours vary considerablyacross regions. For example, men vary in thetiming of their sexual activity. The latest availabledemographic and household survey datafrom 30 countries suggest that young men continueto have sex years before they marry (IFCMacro DHS Statcompiler). The gaps betweenage at first intercourse and age at marriage rangefrom 1.1 years in South and Southeast Asia to6.8 years in Latin America and the Caribbean.In sub-Saharan Africa, young men marry4.8 years after they first have sex.When adolescents and male youth are notreached with appropriate information andservices during this interval between first intercourseand when they enter a formal union,they—like their partners—are at increased riskof sexually transmitted infections and unintendedpregnancy. Couples-based family planningprogrammes that heavily rely on links to maternalhealth are less likely to reach these men.Partly because of HIV prevention efforts,young men have become increasingly awareof contraceptive methods available to them(Abraham, Adamu and Deresse, 2010). Menin unions are more likely to know about thecontraceptive methods available to them; inrecent years they have become more aware ofcondoms, while vasectomy remains relativelyunknown.Even though men are increasingly aware ofmale methods of contraception, women stillaccount for 75 per cent of global contraceptiveuse (United Nations, 2011). In 2009, theUnited Nations reported that only 9 per centof married women in developing regions reliedon methods of contraception that required maleparticipation, such as condoms and male sterilization(United Nations, 2009).Men’s fertility preferences have changed overtime. Today, young men generally wish to havesmaller families. As a result, young and adult menmay have an increasing desire for information andservices that help them choose when to havechildren (Guttmacher Institute, 2003).Contraceptive use among young men (ages15 to 24) worldwide varies significantly, withtMan in Kinaaba,Uganda holds his childwhile his wife receivesinjection of long-actingcontraceptive.©UNFPA/OmarGharzeddineTHE STATE OF WORLD POPULATION 201255