Training in masculinity, fatherhood and care will be carried out nationally and will start in 2024
In the month of November, the month of comprehensive care for men's health, we celebrate initiatives that aim to enrich the quality of life of this group. With a commitment to strengthening the debate on men's health care, Promundo signed a partnership with the Ministry of Health in a Technical Cooperation Agreement that will train 15 thousand professionals in the area from 2024. The Masculinities and Equitable Paternities project will arrive to 5 states in the national territory. In addition to in-person training, the project will feature online training for states that may not be among the 5 included.
The focus of the training is on themes surrounding masculinities and fatherhood and care, addressing, in addition to men's health, issues related to gender equity, care economy, socio-historical notions of models of masculinity, prevention of violence, promotion of equity of gender, diversity of masculinities and fatherhoods, racism and anti-racism. The approaches will aim to raise awareness and mobilize technical teams, management teams and Primary Health Care teams to provide care to men.
The National Policy for Comprehensive Attention to Men's Health aims to promote the improvement of the health conditions of this group and contribute to the reduction of their morbidity and mortality. As one of the axes of PNAISH, fatherhood and care are included within this policy as it brings benefits to both the health and well-being of men, their partners and children, including participation in all stages of pregnancy, the strengthening bonds and the development of children, contributing to the reduction of situations of obstetric violence and maternal and child mortality, among many other benefits. Access this month's content from Promundo to find out more.
For men to be actively included in health policies, it is essential that professionals are prepared to receive them, that they are qualified to raise awareness and debate about masculinities and their diversities, contexts and issues. Therefore, the Ministry of Health and Promundo are promoting this dialogue through training.
It is important to consider that there are structural reasons that lead men to distance themselves from the place of care. The taboos and prejudices linked to the ideal model of masculinity, the culture that men cannot be vulnerable, care being socially associated with women, all of this encourages men to put themselves at risk, not to assume that they need care and that may also be responsible for care in other dimensions, such as childcare and household chores. Promundo fights on several fronts to break these taboos and to show that society as a whole benefits when men take on the role of caring and thus have their quality of life valued.
Why it is important to take care of men's health
National and international data show that men live less, mainly because they take less care of their own health. According to IBGE, the average lifespan is 7 years less than women. Other figures show that:
70% of men who go to the doctor do so under the influence of women, according to a survey by the São Paulo Men's Health Reference Center.
Men have fewer medical appointments per year compared to women, according to the Ministry of Health.
They are the majority in suicide mortality and have a 3.8 times higher risk of death by suicide than women, according to the Ministry of Health.
Men are the main victims of violence and accidents, according to research by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.
Men access health services in urgent situations. 62% only seek a doctor when symptoms are unbearable, according to research by the Lado a Lado institute.
The coordinator of Men's Health Care, Celmário Brandão, spoke about the cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Health and Promundo. “The agreement arises from a relationship of recognition and trust that the Men's Health Coordination developed and deposits in the Promundo Institute. The cooperation agreement is important to formalize a set of commitments on both sides. We are investing in these trainings to broaden the debate on masculinity and fatherhood throughout the country”, he highlighted.
He also stated that the partnership is an opportunity to reach a large number within the Brazilian primary health care service and also to qualify workers both for welcoming men and for the debate regarding the exercise of fatherhood and masculinity. For him, the agreement is also a possibility of awakening social attention.
“A whole movement was created in relation to men's health and not only workers, but managers, society as a whole begins to look equally at this male population, who have neglected their care, have neglected care for others. And there is also the capacity that the health system has had to serve, to welcome, to promote the inclusion of these men in a care network. It's not just a one-way front. Men neglect it, but it is the responsibility of the Brazilian state to take care of the entire Brazilian population, including the male population. We are very much looking forward to the start of activities. I hope that very soon we will be on the streets to be able to train and we hope to trigger a series of other training and social change processes based on this cooperation agreement and this relationship with Promundo”.
The diversity of masculinities and paternities
Another important issue is to consider the particularities of different masculinities and fatherhoods in the healthcare system. During the 3rd Black Population Health Webinar, focusing on the debate on Men's Health, held by the Ministry of Health, Luciano Ramos, deputy director of Promundo, mentioned this point, specifically bringing up the experiences of black men.
Regarding black fatherhoods, he emphasizes that “When we are talking about the partner's prenatal care, we need to look at other fatherhoods and how they organize themselves.[…] When we think about the partner's prenatal strategy For men to enter the SUS, we need to think about how the SUS is structured to serve black men. When we are training health professionals in Brazil, we need to work on the issue of racism and anti-racist practices. How can these professionals have anti-racist practices in their care? Who is this black man? How is it constituted and why does it not reach the healthcare system? As a strategy of whiteness so that this man does not occupy this place, the idea is sold that he is stronger”, he explained.
Promundo’s work and the institute’s other initiatives
Promundo has been strongly involved with the themes of masculinity and fatherhood and care. The institute's work focuses on the methodology of Program H, which aims to promote reflection on rigid norms associated with masculinity through educational workshops and awareness campaigns, and the methodology of Program P, which also works on the same issues, more focused on exercise of paternity.
Currently, Promundo also carries out other training based on these themes with the support of the Chanel Foundation. Over the next year, more than 25 thousand professionals will be trained not only in health, but also in social assistance and education. Coordination with states and municipalities is still being carried out and training has already been confirmed in the states of Bahia, Ceará, Rio Grande do Sul and others have already started in Rio de Janeiro.
To learn more about men's health, fatherhood and care, access the materials available on our website! We have the P Program Manual and the First Report on Black Paternities in Brazil .
We also took the opportunity to disseminate the Partner's Prenatal Guide for Health Professionals , produced by the Ministry of Health, among other content on the Ministry's website. Be part of promoting men's health too. Access and share the content! at national level and start in 2024
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