The forgotten fifty per cent: a review of sexual and reproductive health research and programs focused on boys and young men in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This paper reviews existing literature on sexual and reproductive health research and programming among boys and young men in sub-Saharan Africa. While there is growing body of literature on adolescent and young adult women, much less is known about male sexual and reproductive health and its potential connection to well being, and in particular the risk of contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS. The author's premise is that both societal and individual vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection are heavily influenced by socio-cultural factors and societal norms, and that gender and sexuality are among the most powerful of these elements. In keeping with this perspective, potential gaps in the literature are identified using a modification of Dixon-Mueller's framework, which illustrates how sexuality and gender influence reproductive health outcomes. The framework focuses on several interrelated elements of sexuality--sexual partnerships, sexual acts, sexual meaning, sexual drives and enjoyment, and sexual knowledge and awareness.