With UNFPA support, JOICFP is implementing a regional project, Increasing Male Involvement for RH through Effective Behavior Change Communication Strategies (RAS/5R/304), from 2004 to 2007. The project is being carried out in Indonesia, Mongolia and Myanmar, and incorporates past successes in JOICFP community-operated reproductive health activities.

From 17th to 23rd July 2005, Ryoko Nishida, Director, and Etsuko Yamaguchi, Assistant Program Officer, International Program, JOICFP, conducted a monitoring visit in Indonesia to confirm the progress of project activities and discuss future activities.

In Indonesia, the project activities are jointly implemented by the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA), the National Family Planning Coordinating Board, and local government of the project sites. Project sites are in the districts of Indramayu and Tasikmalaya in West Java Province, covering two villages in each district.

To date, the baseline and behavior study has been completed and the results shared at the district, sub-district and village level in both project areas. The study was conducted in order to collect data to measure achievements of the project activities and to learn about the behaviors of men in relation to RH.

The behavior change communication (BCC) strategic framework and work plan developed during the Regional Planning Meeting held last year in Tokyo will be refined based on the study results.

Nishida explains how to use a Maggie Apron,
given by JOICFP, to the head of
Salawu Sub-district's Community Health Center

Challenges

- Health personnel suffer from a lack of IEC/BCC materials, and so find it difficult to deliver health education.

- Reproductive health related issues identified in the baseline/behavior study that need to be addressed are: STIs, pregnancy and delivery related complications, induced abortion, family planning, early marriage, and the large number of home deliveries.

- Poverty is believed to be a factor that affects health among community people as many people are unable to pay for medical services, such as clinics and midwives, instead relying on traditional birth attendants (TBAs).

- There is a lack of transportation infrastructure to remote villages.

- Traditional beliefs on nutrition for pregnant women hinder good health.

- In some project areas, the men are working away from home so they cannot easily be involved in activities.

Facilities in
Anjatan Sub-district Community Health Center
needs upgrading

To help deal with these issues, religious leaders are being approached to speak to men on various occasions, including Friday prayer meetings, and it is hoped that the project can become a model for male involvement in Islamic countries.

In addition, peer educators will be trained and weekly village meetings and community radio used as a channel to communicate male involvement messages.

As well as the above, it is planned that the project will be linked with other RH programs at all levels, including existing self-help systems for pregnant women.

Access to this village in Salawu Sub-district,
Tasikmalaya, is only on foot