Project Title

World Health Organisation (WHO) Consultancy – Assessing the state of the evidence on masculinity and the engagement of men in sexual and reproductive health and rights interventions: A systematic review of reviews

Research Focus:

Maternal and Child Health

ii) Working in the Community

Funder & Dates

World Health Organisation (WHO) February – June 2018

Principal Investigator or Primary Supervisor (if PhD project)

Professor Maria Lohan

Co-Investigators or additional supervisors

Dr Fiona Lynn

Dr Esther Reid

Research Fellow(s) or PhD Student

Dr Eimear Ruane-McAteer

Name & Institution of Collaborators

Name of External Partner Organisations

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Description of Project:

Aim; Methods; Expected Outcomes

Aim: The rationale for this review is to assess the quantity and quality of the evidence on how men and boys can be successfully engaged in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) interventions to address their health needs as well as the health needs of women and girls. The review will be guided by the priorities of the WHO Human Reproduction group and will include the following topic areas:

a)       Helping people realize their desired family size (to include infertility)

b)      Ensuring the health of pregnant women and girls and their newborn infants

c)       Preventing unsafe abortion

d)      Promoting sexual health and well-being (excluding genitourinary cancers and men’s health more broadly)

e)      Sexual and reproductive health in disease outbreaks

f)        Healthy adolescence for a healthy future

g)       Preventing and responding to violence against women and girls

The aim is to assess the state of the evidence on the effectiveness of interventions designed to engage men in SRHR and the value of including an explicit focus on masculinities in SRHR interventions.

Methods: Key databases will be searched with a predetermined search strategy (developed following initial scoping searches of the literature) for articles published between 2007 and 2017. Reviews of randomised controlled trials, meta-analyses, and quasi-experimental designs of interventions delivered in community, health, and education services will be included. These interventions will include heterosexual or bisexual males aged between 13-60 years specifically targeting SRHR. Outcomes considered will be male engagement with services and their change in knowledge/health behaviours as a result of participation.

Expected Outcome: Guided by the priorities set out by WHO Human Reproduction group, this review will consider approaches to engaging men and boys in interventions targeting SRHR and the implications for their own health, and the health of women and girls.

Associated with the project.

Add links/URLs to external pages, e.g., study webpage, reports, publications etc.

WHO Sexual and Reproductive Health Report  

http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/reports/hrp-annual-report-2016/en/