Male Involvement: A Missing Link in Pakistan’s Family Planning Programs

Greenstar Social Marketing is implementing The Challenge Initiative (TCI) project in provinces Punjab and Sindh as well as Islamabad Capital Territory. This program is implemented in partnership with the Departments of Health (DoH) and Population Welfare (PWD) who are leading the implementation program while the role of TCI is limited to provision of technical assistance. Currently, this program is being implemented in 15 districts in Pakistan. Different family planning high impact interventions are being implemented in these selected districts. Direct observation was used to observe clients visiting the government facilities. Three facilities were assessed directly for identifying potential areas for male involvement in Islamabad and Faisalabad districts. Moreover, key stakeholders i.e., DoH and PWD government officials, facility providers and staff, and health workers provided inputs on male engagement during different capacity building sessions. Their responses were noted and discussed in a larger team to strategize for future planning and implementation of the ongoing TCI program. Doctors and LHVs mostly believed that allowing males to enter a facility would make the environment uncomfortable for women. Another major argument for barring men to enter the facility was that talking to them about family planning is a difficult conversation, and female service providers felt that they would struggle during this process. There were a few facilities where a male family welfare assistant was deputed but they also had same approach for the stated matter. Males are being ignored in Pakistan’s family planning programming. Male family health days can be helpful for both community male members and service providers to initiate the discussion and build mutual trust. Training curriculum for relevant cadres should include a chapter on the importance of male involvement. Service providers should receive capacity building sessions on family planning value clarification, communication skills and gender intentionality. Men accompanying their women to the health facility should be welcomed and encouraged.