Gary Barker, PhDInstituto Promundo

www.promundo.org.br

Involving Young Men in Promoting Gender Equality and Combatting

HIV/AIDS

Lessons Learned from Program H

Objectives

Discuss why these issues are important for the workplace

Present lessons learned from a comprehensive and evaluated approach to engaging young men in promoting gender equality and preventing HIV/AIDS

Discuss ideas for taking this approach to the workplace in partnership with ILO

Why are these issues important for the workplace? Men’s violence against

women = lost productivity

HIV/AIDS = lost workers Unmet sexual and

reproductive health needs = higher health care costs

Resistance to women’s equality in the workplace by men = denial of women’s rights

Limited participation as fathers = unfair burden on women

Why focus on young men? 15-24 phase when

forming relationships, having their first children, learning to interact in intimate relationships

Potential for critical thinking and for questioning traditional gender norms

Tapping the potential for constructing alternative ways of being men ....

We know how to promote greater gender equality with young men Offering alternative male peer groups

who support greater gender equality. Helping young men reflect about the

costs of traditional views of manhood. Putting young men in contact with

positive role models who reinforce alternative views about gender.

What is Program H?• An integrated program

to promote gender equality

• Tested in six countries with 271 young men

• Now used in most of Latin America and being adapted for Asia, SSA

• Based on the best practices of 4 NGOs with extensive experience working with men

• Partnerships with WHO, PAHO, UNFPA, USAID, IPPF, Durex Condoms

Program H: 4 Integrated Components1.) Group Workshops to Promote Attitude

Change2.) Lifestyle Social Marketing to Change

Community Norms3.) Engage Health Services and Other

Community Allies to Reach Young Men4.) Evaluate Attitude and Social Norm Change:

The GEM ScalePartners: ECOS, PAPAI, Salud y Genero, IPPF,

PAHO/WHO, UNFPA, Durex Condoms, Horizons/Population Council, JohnSnowBrasil

1. Workshops to Promote AttitudeChange

Sexuality and Reproductive Health

Fatherhood and Caregiving

From Violence to Peaceful Coexistence

Reasons and Emotions Preventing/Living with

HIV/AIDS Video: “Once Upon a

Boy”

Five Manuals

Key Lessons Learned in Group Educational Activities Promote a reflection

about “costs” of traditional/harmful aspects of masculinity

Discuss and “rehearse” positive male attitudes

Take them to where young men are ...community groups, schools, the workplace, the sports field

2. Lifestyle Social Marketing to Promote Changes in Community Norms Identify “more gender-

equitable” young men Design communication

strategies based on youth culture

Combine condom use with a more “gender-equitable” lifestyle

Partnerhship with private sector: Durex Condoms

Hora H – “In the Heat of the Moment” - Campaign

3. Engaging health services and other community allies to reach young men On the DEMAND SIDE: Promote health

awareness among young men and their families

On the SUPPLY SIDE: Work with health practitioners to sensitize them to needs of young men

......engaging the health sector as an ally in promoting gender equality.

4. Evaluation of Attitude and Social Norm Change: The GEM Scale Impact evaluation project (with support from

Horizons/Population Council) Intervention with young men (manuals combined

with lifestyle social marketing) Qualitative and quantitative components Cost-effectiveness analysis Assess process and impact indicators (changes in

behaviors and attitudes) Construction of GEM Scale(Gender Equitable

Attitudes in Men Scale)

Selected GEM Scale Items

% Agree

0 20 40 60 80 100

A man should have the finalword about decisions at home.

I would be outraged if my wifeasked me to use a condom.

A man needs other women,even if things with his wife are

fine.

Adult

Youth

GEM Scale Rating by % Violence Among Youth*

4

10

17

05

101520253035404550

GEMS

High Equitable

Medium Equitable

Low Equitable

*p < 0.001 - Chi-square test

Pe

rce

nt

of

Pa

rtn

er

Vio

len

ce

GEM Scale Rating by % Non-condom Use Among Adults*

5

12

28

05

101520

25303540

4550

GEMS

High Equitable

Medium Equitable

Low Equitable

*p = .08 - Chi-square test

Pe

rce

nt

of

No

n-c

on

do

m U

se

La

st s

ex w

Sec

on

dar

y

Pa

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Results and Final Lessons Learned Initial results show positive change in 16 of 24

attitude questions after participation in activities, and increased condom use

Need to intervene at individual and community level Importance of building local partnerships to reinforce

messages (with pharmacies, workplace, schools, NGOs, neighborhood association, health sector)

Engaging young men in all aspects of program development

Next Steps .....

Take it to the workplace.... Test the process in collaboration with ILO

and employer groups Engage employers as active partners in

promoting gender equality with young men