Background: Lack of male involvement and support for sexual and reproductive health services is seen by many\r\nPapua New Guinean women as a barrier to accessing services. Poor utilization of services by both men and women\r\nis reflected in high maternal mortality and high rates of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in the\r\nSouthern Highlands Province. It is therefore important to understand the type of services provided, men�s\r\nperceptions of these services and the Health Sector�s capacity to involve men in its programs.\r\nMethods: Information from interviews of married men, officers in charge of health facilities, and information from a\r\nfocus group discussion with village leaders was collected to assess possible constraints to reproductive and sexual\r\nhealth care delivery.\r\nResults: Although many men had heard about antenatal care, supervised births, family planning and sexually\r\ntransmitted infections including, HIV/AIDS, many were unaware of their importance and of the types of services\r\nprovided to address these issues. There was a very strong association between men�s literacy and their knowledge\r\nof Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) issues, their discussion of these issues with their wives and their wives�\r\nutilisation of sexual and reproductive health services. Some men considered SRH services to be important but gave\r\npriority to social obligations. Although men made most decisions for sexual and reproductive issues, pregnancy,\r\nchild birth and rearing of children were regarded as women�s responsibilities. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS appeared to\r\nhave changed sexual behaviour in some men. Services for men in this rural setting were inadequate and service\r\nproviders lacked the capacity to involve men in reproductive health issues.\r\nConclusion: Poor knowledge, socio-cultural factors and inadequate and inappropriate services for men hampered\r\nutilization of services and impaired support for their wives� service utilization. Programmatic and policy initiatives\r\nshould focus on improving service delivery to accommodate men in sexual and reproductive health.
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