November 2003

Men Lack Health Information

The majority of men worldwide, especially in developing nations, lack the information and services they need to protect themselves and their sexual partners from unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI) reported in October. For instance, the percentage of men in developing nations who know that condom use can help prevent HIV infection varies from 82% in Brazil to just 9% in Bangladesh. “Men can actively contribute to improving their partner’s and their own health,” said lead researcher Akinrinola Bankole, but “the evidence clearly shows that men do need better information, counseling, and clinical care, and that our failure to provide these services is jeopardizing efforts to fight STIs, including HIV.”

A parallel AGI report on American men examined how patterns in men’s sexual lives shape policy and programs. In the U.S. 80% of reported AIDS cases are among men, but few health professionals are trained to provide men with sexual and reproductive health information and services.