Sexual & Reproductive Health Concerns of Married Men and Their Access to Health Service Providers in a Rural Area of Bangladesh

Abstract

The research highlights the huge implications for poor and vulnerable men who spend a major source of their income on treatment for sexual and reproductive health concerns. As sexual and reproductive health issues remain neglected, this research is specifically targeted to future policy and interventions, including acknowledgement of the need to engage with the role of informal providers who provide a large percentage of the services. This is one of the few studies that has also noted the link between men’s sexual health concerns and domestic violence. Given the power relationship between men and women in Bangladesh if a woman refuses sexual contact with her husband for any reason, the husband’s reaction varies from anger to violence including forced sex. This suggests that if men’s sexual health needs were more adequately met, this might have an impact on relations between husbands and wives, decreasing the likelihood of violence related to sexual dysfunction as well as decreasing the incidence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission.

Citation

2 pp.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Concerns of Married Men and Their Access to Health Service Providers in a Rural Area of Bangladesh

Published 1 January 2010