The Barriers of Men’s Involvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health: A Mixed-Method Study

Maintaining and promoting women’s reproductive health is one of the main goals of healthcare system. Meanwhile, men play a substantial role in the success or failure of reproductive health programs though their role is unfortunately unknown in many countries including Iran, thereby facing many problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the barriers to the role and understanding of men’s involvement in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of their wives.

The present study mixed-method study (review and qualitative design) was conducted in 2 steps. First, relevant data were retrieved using several online databases such as Scopus, Medline, Science Direct, Google Scholar, SID, Noormags, and Magiran. Then, additional information and supplementary codes were gathered utilizing an in-depth semi-structured individual interview with 13 married men and 2 focus groups among 14 married women after obtaining the informed consent.

The study findings showed that men had a good perception of participating in reproductive health at the levels of family supervision and management, creating a suitable condition for their wives’ pregnancy and overall health, and finally, taking actions regarding medical care and preventions and providing informative and helpful educations for their wives. However, a wide range of economic-occupational, psychological-mental, socio-cultural, educational-informational, and policy barriers to the healthcare system of the community have prevented their participation in SRH care and programs.

Overall, policymakers and stakeholders are expected to consider these barriers to men’s involvement in SRH in their policy and management plans, leading to the development of men’s participation in SRH care of their women