ANM Suman at Kokpura UPHC in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, is engaging school staff and teachers to motivate men to take an active role in family planning.
Data from Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, showed very low male participation in family planning. Suman, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) at Kokpura Urban Primary Health Center (UPHC), decided to tackle the gap head-on after a district capacity-building meeting led by the District Urban Health Coordinator and Medical Officer, with support from The Challenge Initiative (TCI) team in India. The session unpacked local data, strengthened providers’ knowledge on family planning and male engagement, and helped Suman see a clear opportunity to reach men more effectively.
Suman says,
I have always believed that conventional approaches yield only conventional results. So, when my efforts to engage eligible men in the field didn’t bring results, I knew I had to change my ways. Instead of directly reaching out to men, I connected with primary school support staff, informing them about male family planning method No-Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) and asking them to guide potential clients to Kokpura UPHC for counseling.
During one such visit, a few male teachers noticed me, and within moments, I was surrounded by four of them, all curious about the NSV procedure. What started as a simple enquiry quickly turned into a full counseling session. As a result, three of those teachers opted for the method and, within a week, received NSV services at the district hospital. I made sure to follow up with them to ensure they felt supported. This experience established me as a trusted motivator. Those teachers spread the word by gathering parents, school staff, and even neighbors. It opened doors for more conversations [to] share accurate information and dispel myths surrounding NSV.
Her innovative approach moved the number of NSV clients from zero to three and opened new pathways for future outreach. Suman’s initiative soon gained recognition, and she became a coach and mentor not only for eligible couples but also for numerous ANMs and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).
She recalls:
This shift did not happen overnight. It was the result of insights shared during an ANM and ASHA capacity-building meeting conducted by the District Urban Health Coordinator and Medical Officer, along with TCI’s India team. The meeting provided me with valuable knowledge on family planning methods, male involvement in family planning, guiding eligible couples in their decision-making, and a broader understanding of comprehensive family planning and maternal well-being. The analyzed data presented in the meeting revealed minimal male participation in family planning, which made me think. I saw an opportunity in this and decided to make a fresh effort in counselling men on NSV. I started working with the UPHC lab technician to compile a list of potential male clients.
Despite the sensitivity of the subject, Suman remained unwavering in her commitment. By counseling and encouraging men to actively participate in family planning, she is gradually transforming the landscape of family planning in Etawah and was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation and a trophy by the District Health Authorities for her exemplary efforts.
