MEN’S SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN KARAJ: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Background and Aim : Despite the importance of reproductive and sexual health of men, there is not much information about their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) situation. Men have substantial (SRH) needs for contraception, prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual dysfunction, infertility and male cancers. Yet these SRH needs are often unmet due a combination of factors that include a lack of service availability, poor health-seeking behavior among men. This study aimed to assess sexual and reproductive health of adult men in Alborz Province.Methods : This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in 2019 on 286 adult men. They were selected by random sampling from urban health centers in Karaj. Data gathering was done by a three part questionnaire including; demographic, reproductive and sexual behavior history, and SRH knowledge and access.Results : The age range of the participants was between 18 and 66. About 66 percent of the men were married. About 51 percent of the individuals had a desire to have a child. The first sex age in ten percent of the samples occurred under 18. Only 23 percent of the men used condoms at the last sex practice and the most common reason for not using a condom was that they disliked it. Most men received the sexual and reproductive health information from the satellites. Near to half of the participants said that they do not know a center to go if they had sexual or reproductive problems and also assessed their information about HIV/AIDS prevention inadequately. The participants’ information about sexual and reproductive health was inadequate.Conclusion : Given men s inadequate knowledge and access to reproductive and sexual health, designing community-based programs to promote men s reproductive health status is essential.

Keywords:

Health , Male , Reproductive Health