Citation

Nerquaye-tetteh J. Sex. Health Exch. 1998; (3): 2-4.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Royal Tropical Institute)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12294684

Abstract

Many men in Ghanaian society have the final say in couples on whether or not to use contraception, the type of contraceptive to use, how many children to have, and when to have them. However, despite their important roles in families and family planning decision-making, men have long been overlooked by family planning programs. Not including and accommodating men in family planning programs impedes men's access to family planning services and limits women's ability to make full use of available reproductive health services. Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) field workers organized male workers of the Prestea Oil Palm Plantation in the western region of Ghana into a "daddies' club" and provided them with indoor recreational games as an entry point for discussions of family planning and other reproductive health issues. In 1980, PPAG created the Male Involvement in Family Planning project to increase male participation in family planning and other reproductive health issues. The project now covers 7 of the country's 10 regions and by the end of 1997, operated through 19 daddies' clubs, 24 industrial centers, 9 garage associations, 13 drivers' unions, 3 national vocational training institutes, 5 artisan's groups, 32 functional literacy facilitators, 4 young men's clubs, and an agricultural college. Members' recreational activities have generated discussions on reproductive health issues.

Language: en