Men’s Wellness Toolkit – Facilitator’s Guide

These resources are from the Brothers for Life campaign, which was launched 2009 in South Africa and seeks to address the risks associated with multiple and concurrent partnerships, sex and alcohol abuse, and gender based violence. The campaign also promotes HIV testing, male involvement in PMTCT and other health seeking behaviors. The campaign uses Interpersonal communication, mass media, and advocacy to reach its audiences.

This toolkit includes a facilitator’s guide to be used by Brothers for Life staff for group dialogues and one-on -one conversations with men about the issues that affect them, their partners, and families. Each chapter outlines the learning objectives and key messages of the session. Topics covered include: sexual partners, sexual and reproductive health, HIV, STIs, parenting, and violence.

The South Africa National Communication Survey 2012 Preliminary Results revealed that Scrutinize (another South African campaign, the materials for which are in the Health COMpass) reached about 70% and Brothers for Life reached about 60% of their intended population. Regarding condom use, it was also determined that both programs should continue to promote self-efficacy and positive attitudes toward condom use (as those shown in this presentation) as these have a positive net effect on condom use at last sex. Condom use promotion through community meetings and increasing community involvement also has a positive effect on condom use. The survey also revealed in regards to HIV testing that self-efficacy to request partner testing and discussion with sex partners about getting tested together has a positive net effect. Regarding, Multiple Sex Partners (MSP), neither program is having any direct effect on MSP but has a net positive effect on self-efficacy to avoid MSP. Both programs should continue to promote self-efficacy to avoid MSP but need to be careful not to increase attitudes that favor MSP. The evaluation of Scrutinize shows that this program increased favorable attitudes toward MSP. The Brothers for Life program did not have this negative effect

Source: Johns Hopkins Health and Education South Africa (JHHESA)

Date of Publication: March 25, 2019