The impact of work with men and boys

A growing body of evidence suggests that programmes that work with men and boys can have a significant impact on increasing men’s support for gender equality and in reducing a range of health problems.

The Medical Research Council’s evaluation of the Stepping Stones initiative implemented in the Eastern Cape showed significant changes in men’s attitudes and practices. In follow-up at two years, men who participated in the intervention reported fewer partners, higher condom use, less transactional sex, less substance abuse and less perpetration of intimate partner violence [1]. In Brazil, Instituto Promundo’s intervention with young men on promoting healthy relationships and HIV/STI prevention showed significant shifts in gender norms at six months and twelve months. Young men with more equitable norms were between four and eight times less likely to report STI symptoms, with additional improvements at 12 months post intervention [2]. Following on these findings, the World Health Organisation recently released a report endorsing the efficacy of working with men to achieve gender equality [3].

Does Sonke’s work make a difference?

While more limited in scope, The Sonke Gender Justice Network’s work also appears to be making a difference. The Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE) were commissioned by the IOM to conduct an evaluation of their Partnership on HIV and Mobility in Southern Africa (PHAMSA). This evaluation offered encouraging feedback on Sonke’s role in leading PHAMSA’s gender component and reported that Sonke’s OMC workshops

“had a very high impact resulting in reported behaviour change. Statements like: ‘people have changed their high risk behaviours’ and ‘the gender component has taken off amazingly’ are evidence of the difference this component has had in the community. There is high dynamism as participants develop community action teams on how to put the training into action. The farmers are passionate about addressing gender and there is a need to build on this response... There have been major changes reported on reduction of sexual partners and increased demand for VCT....”

Pre- and post-test evaluations done with participants attending Sonke’s OMC Fatherhood workshops in Nkandla indicate substantial shifts in gender- and HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes. Pre/Post test results from a workshop with the Chwezi Traditional Court revealed that before the workshop, 100% of respondents believed that they had the right, as men, to decide when to have sex with their partners. After the workshop, 75% believed that they did not have the right to decide when to have sex with their partners. Similarly, 67% of respondents believed before the workshop that they could get HIV from a deep kiss with someone. After the workshop, 100% of the respondents agreed that they could not get HIV from a deep kiss. Pre/Post test results for the workshop conducted with the Ekukhanyeni Tribal Authority Training indicate similar shifts: Before the workshop, 63% of respondents believed that, under some circumstances, it is acceptable for men to beat their partners. Post-workshop, 83% of respondents disagreed with this statement. Before the workshop, 96% of respondents believed that they should not interfere in other people’s relationships, even if there is violence. After the workshop, 100% believed that they should interfere. Pre/Post test results for trainers from partner organizations in the EC and KZN showed that before the workshop, 88% of trainers from partner organizations believed that men should have the final say in their relationships. After the workshop, 100% believed that men do not have the final say in their relationships. 94% of respondents believed that it was not their business to interfere in other people’s relationships, even if there is violence. At the end of the workshop, 100% felt it was their business to interfere.

[1] Jewkes R, Wood K, Duvvury N. “‘I woke up after I joined Stepping Stones’: meanings of a HIV behavioural intervention in rural South African young people’s lives.” Social Science & Medicine (submitted)

[2] Pulerwitz J, Barker G, Segundo M (2004). “Promoting Healthy Relationships and HIV/STI Prevention for Young Men: Positive Findings from an Intervention Study in Brazil. Horizons Research Update”. Washington, DC: Population Council.

[3] World Health Organization (2007). Engaging men and boys in changing gender-based inequity in health: Evidence from programme interventions. Geneva