The survey shows that male participation in reproductive health can have a positive impact on the health of women and children in many ways, including improving the level of maternal and child health care, preventing and reducing sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS, and improving the efficiency and continuation rate of contraceptive use. A survey in India shows that the number of antenatal examinations conducted by wives of families whose husbands have received antenatal education has significantly increased, and the perinatal mortality rate of women has significantly decreased (Bhalerao, V.R. et al. 1984). Moreover, men who have received prenatal education know more about various contraceptive methods and are more concerned about the nutritional needs of their spouses during pregnancy (Rajuan Leonard, 2000).
A survey in Egypt found that husbands who received counseling when their wives miscarried were more considerate and caring during their wives' recovery (Abdel Tawab et al., 1999). Because sexually transmitted diseases in monogamous families are usually transmitted from men to women, male participation is particularly important in the fight against sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS.
Studies have shown that the most likely cause of sexually transmitted infections among married women is the sexual behavior of their husbands (Hunter et al., 1994; Foreman, 1999). Men are eight times more likely to transmit AIDS virus to women than women to men by repeating unsafe sexual behaviors (Padian et al., 1997).
Research results show that male participation in reproductive health can improve contraceptive use, customer satisfaction, contraceptive effectiveness, and contraceptive method continuation. The results of randomized testing indicate that the contraceptive rate of housewives whose husbands have received contraceptive counseling services is significantly higher than those whose husbands have not received counseling (Fisek et al., 1978; Terefe et al., 1993). A recent randomized survey conducted in China showed that the effectiveness of contraception in families where husbands receive contraception counseling has greatly improved (Wang, et al., 1998). Several other research studies have also shown that the continuation rate of contraceptive methods in families where husbands have received contraceptive counseling services is also higher. A study in Madagascar found that housewives whose husbands have received contraceptive counselling services are more likely to continue using skin burial methods (Tapsoba et al., 1993).
(Intern editor: Lai Jiaxing)