Engaging Malian Religious Leaders to Include Men in Family Planning Decisions

Transcription

1 Engaging Malian Religious Leaders to Include Men in Family Planning Decisions Kampala November 2009 Dr Binta Keita Director, Division of Reproductive Health Ministry of Health, Mali 1

2 An initiative in which religious leaders engage in promoting family planning. November, 2009

3 Presentation Outline General statistics for Mali Why Contructive Male Engagement in family planning (CME-FP)? General principles of Contrustive Male Engagement in FP Context Reasons for targeting religious leaders in Mali Main implementation strategies for CME-FP Méthodology The pillars of success Results Lessons learned Conclusion 3

4 Population: 12.5 million Mali Surface area: km² 49% Men MAURITANIE 51 % Women 95% Muslim 1% Christian 4% Animist SENEGAL KAYES YELIMANE NIORO BAFOULABE KENIEBA GUINEE DIEMA KITA KOLOKANI BANAMBA KATI KANGABA NARA KOULIKORO BARAOUELI BLA DIOILA BOUGOUNI YANFOLILA KOLONDIEBA KADIOLO YOUVAROU DOUENTZA NIONO MOPTI TENENKOU BANDIAGARA KORO MACINA SEGOU DJENNE BANKASS KOUTIALA YOROSSO SIKASSO GOUNDAM TOMINIAN SAN TOMBOUCTOU NIAFUNKE DIRE GOURMA-RHAROUS BURKINA FASO 0 TESSALIT BOUREM GAO distances en k ALGERIE ANSONGO KIDAL ABEIBARA 600 TIN-ESSAKO MENAKA Un Peuple Un But Une Foi NIGER 4

5 Why the Constructive Engagement of Men (CME) in Family Planning? To change people s perceptions of the role of men in family planning; To encourage men to be more engaged in FP within the couple, in the family and in the community; To encourage men to promote the rights of women and families as they pertain to health; To engage communities in promoting FP. 5

6 General Principles of CME-FP Respect for the dignity of men and women Respect for gender Commitment of men to improving women s health Engagement of young men very early in life to make these men real allies for women s health 6

7 Cultural Context in Mali In most families, men are the primary decisionmakers regarding the use of family planning methods. Social responsibilities often prohibit men from being involved and interested in crucial FP questions. Rarely do couples communicate about FP. Very few men accompany their wives and children to the health center. 7

8 Context (Cont.) In Mali: Unmet need for FP services: 31.2% Modern contraceptive prevalence rate: 6.9% Maternal mortality ratio: 464/100,000 live births Total fertility rate: 6.6 children per woman Among married women between 15-49, only 6% have made FP decisions with their husbands. 8

9 Why Use Religious Leaders as Actors in CME-FP? In Mali: Religious leaders are among the most influential and most respected people in society. Many people think that Islam does not accept FP and that FP is a Western agenda. Religion plays an important role among couples in the decision to use modern contraceptive methods. 9

10 The Initiative: «Religious Leaders on the Way to the Health Center» Consisted of: Meetings between religious leaders and patients in many health care settings; Policy dialogue sessions about FP facilitated by religious leaders; Exchanges with patients (men and women) about the role of men in FP. 10

11 Partners Involved in this Initiative Nongovernmental organizations Referral health centers Health care consumers Community leaders in the coverage area of the health centers visited 11

12 Principal Strategies Used to Implement CME-FP in Mali As partner and supporter of his wife in using FP As client of FP services MAN Change agent at community level 12

13 Methodology Identification of policy champions for CME in FP; Creation of a guide for Constructive Male Engagement in FP; Training champions about the links between gender and FP; Facilitation of a multisectoral group to validate national goals for CME-FP. 13

14 Results In 2008, the Ministry of Health in Mali: Adopted the guidelines for CME-FP; Created a committee to define the operational policies for CME-FP and to continue the policy dialogue; Muslim leaders implemented the guidelines for CME-FP by: Visits to health centers Discussions with men and women encountered in the health centers 14

15 Results (Cont.) Muslim women participated along with their spouses in policy dialogue sessions on birth spacing. 15

16 Résultats (Suite) Religious leaders speak openly in public and in mosques about the importance of dialogue within the couple and male engagement to increase access for women to FP services. 16

17 Results (Cont.) An increased number of men use FP services and accompany their spouses to prenatal visits. An increased number of Muslim religious leaders now speak openly about FP services. 17

18 The Pillars of Success The perceived value by the community of the religious leaders efforts; The inclusion of religious leaders in drafting a guide for CME in FP; The research about Islam s point of view on FP in the «verses» of the Coran and the «Hadiths». 18

19 The Pillars of Success (Cont.) The training of religious leaders in advocacy skills and methods; Provision of advocacy and policy dialogue tools to religious leaders; The extension of the Muslim network for FP to the regional level. 19

20 Lessons Learned CME for FP is a promising strategy for promoting FP services and for reducing infant and maternal mortality. Religious leaders are potential allies for promoting health progams. To sustain these groups as allies, health stakeholders should train groups such as religious leaders in FP indicators, advocacy techniques and policy dialogue. 20

21 Conclusion Religious leaders in Mali understood: The necessity to help the government in advocating for FP; That CME for FP is essential for promoting maternal and child health; That in this process, they are potential allies of health providers, beneficiaries and stakeholders. NB: Christian congregations in Mali are actively engaged in the scale-up process for this initiative. 21

22 Thank you! 22