A multi-country policy analysis report on the inclusion of men’s and boys’ SRH needs in national health guidance documents is soon to be released.

There has been increased attention to the role of men and boys as partners, fathers, and change agents in advancing SRHR for women and children in East and Southern Africa, and addressing their specific needs through targeted information and services. The report shows that men and boys’ SRH needs are currently subsumed under broader health and SRH policies and that only one out of five reviewed countries has a stand-alone document on male involvement in maternal and child health care. Due to an absence of disaggregated data on burden of disease and health service utilisation by gender, policy documents (except for HIV and AIDS) do not further unpack the specific determinants, needs and gaps of men and boys in sexual and reproductive health. Particular blind spots in the policy landscape are violence against boys and support for boys as expectant young fathers in school settings. The report also analyses the attention to the range of male clinical services in SRH in country policies and strategies, as well as the guidance around gender-transformative approaches in a region where sexual and gender-based violence is a major problem.

In June, HEARD will present the report, including its research findings from the five countries, to regional and country stakeholders in a UNFPA-moderated event. The report will be released prior to this event and made accessible through the HEARD website.