Improving Reproductive and Sexual Health

IMPROVING REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH - 

Behavioural and Intercultural Issues and Cultural Awareness

Countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, Mali

Project initiated in: 2007

Presented by: Interarts

Partners: AECID, Family Care International - Mali, Association des Enfants et des Jeunes travailleurs du Mali

Project budget: EUR 1 270 370

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// Context

Few dimensions of human life are more closely intertwined with culture than sexuality and reproduction. Religious beliefs, customs, and other cultural factors determine sexual and reproductive behaviour and affect both the quality and the utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services. These factors, as well as the ways in which health systems and providers respond to them, have a direct impact on health issues, such as pregnancies, maternal mortality, HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases.

Taking into account cultural dimensions is a condition for public health policies and projects to have a concrete and durable impact in health indicators.

In this context Interarts, in partnership with local associations and authorities, conceived and implemented this project in three focus countries.

// Project objectives

• Promote the integration of cultural factors and the respect of cultural rights in the elaboration and implementation of sexual and reproductive health policies and projects.
• Identify the cultural barriers that limit access for specific social categories (adolescents, indigenous people, etc.) to accurate sexual and reproductive health information and services.
• Design culturally-adapted programs and tools.
• Strengthen the capacity of local associations to provide accurate and culturally-appropriate sexual and reproductive health information and create an adequate environment to access it for all social groups.
• Promote dialogue and understanding among local leaders, political and religious authorities, and employers to raise awareness and facilitate behavioural change among young people in terms of sexuality and reproduction

// Action and impact

To attain its goals, the project has promoted and obtained the participation of the targeted communities. It has delivered professional training and created cultural-specific tools and documents. It has generated intercultural dialogue spaces and opportunities, and has demonstrated its efficacy as:

• a vehicle to convey messages;
• a practice for designing development programs;
• a guide for promoting behavioural changes;
• a means for achieving community participation and the reinforcement of civil society.

In Bolivia and Ecuador, representatives of indigenous organisations are now actively participating in the development of governmental health policies, programs and projects.

The project has had an impact in terms of the reduction of maternal mortality among indigenous women owing to better access to information and health services.

In Mali the project concentrated on young people from the informal sector. It has generated information on behavioural attitudes and cultural factors related to sexual and reproductive health and it has raised awareness of adults and educators on this subject.

There is enhanced confidence and better communication between religious leaders and youth groups and a mutual agreement to disseminate information on reproductive and sexual health issues. This implies better-informed young people and, therefore, stronger prevention on sexually-transmitted diseases. Young people from the target group have acknowledged a change towards a more responsible and better protected sexual behaviour.

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