The Horizon project in Brazil concluded that boys who participated in interventions that promoted gender equitable behavior, communicated with their primary partners about a broader range of key HIV/STI-related topics (29).
There have been interesting learnings throughout our investments -- one area I might call out is around our men and boys portfolio, which is comprised of programming that engages men and boys directly to address issues such as gender equitable attitudes and behaviors and reducing gender based violence.
The results suggest that learning about sexual and reproductive health does not directly imply developing more gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors or a greater willingness to prevent VAW.
As the young men moved along the process, they seem to have modified their gender relations, expressing more gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors that challenged traditional power relations between men and women, homophobia, and VAW.
However, the results suggest that learning about sexual and reproductive health does not directly imply developing more gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors or a greater willingness to prevent VAW.
Developing gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors is experienced as a process involving not only acquisition of information but also developing respect for other people's views and sexual choices, assuming responsibility for one's own sexual behavior, and learning and applying new skills such as agency, critical thinking, and a political stance.
Just because I defend women, just because I am conscious that you don't have to treat women like that? (FGD 4) We identified that belonging to a group that shared the same gender-equitable values and behaviors was an important external factor facilitating the transition.
As described in other studies [ 26, 27], education is associated with equitable and safe sexual behaviors.
We know that interventions narrowly predicated on a health belief model, which do not bring about changes in the social and economic fabric of society, often fail to produce lasting behavior change and equitable health gains (24, 25).
Our analysis also showed that respondents reporting no formal education were more likely than those with any education to agree that it is a woman's responsibility to avoid getting pregnant; suggesting that general education of both women and men may promote more equitable sexual and reproductive health attitudes and behaviors.
