FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2004

New Guide Focuses on Involving Men in Reproductive Health Issues

BALTIMORE —The Health Communication Partnership (HCP) just released a new guide for implementing reproductive health programs that involve men to help promote gender equity and improve sexual health for both men and women.

Reaching Men to Improve Reproductive and Sexual Health for All is the result of an international conference held in Dulles , Virginia , in September 2003, where more than 300 participants from 45 countries discussed interventions that involved men. The conference was sponsored by the Men and Reproductive Health Task Force of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Interagency Gender Working Group (IGWG).

The guide demonstrates how to develop, implement, and evaluate reproductive health programs involving men and is aimed at reproductive health program managers and technical staff of implementing agencies, government, and non-governmental organizations. Issues addressed include:

• Male Identity in Adolescent Men
• Policy Initiatives and Strategies for Advocating Male Involvement
• Involving Men Through Maternal & Child Health
• Men's Right and Empowerment in Improving Women's Reproductive Health
• Successful Strategies in Reaching Men
• Tools and Programs for Monitoring and Evaluation

The guide and presentations from the conference are available online at http://www.jhuccp.org/igwg . Reaching Men to Improve Reproductive and Sexual Health for All is also available on CD-ROM and can be ordered through HCP lead partner Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs by visiting the order form or contacting orders@jhuccp.org . The guide complements an Orientation Guide that focuses on the why men should be involved in reproductive health issues.

HCP is a global communication initiative based at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Communication Programs in partnership with the Academy for Educational Development, Save the Children, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, and Tulane University 's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. In addition to the five core partners, HCP works with leading Southern-based health communication organizations as well as global programming partners from the corporate sector, international media, academic institutions, and faith-based organizations. For a full list of HCP partners and collaborators, visit www.hcpartnership.org .