Population Council Research that makes a difference

Addis Birhan ("New Light" in Amharic) is a program for married men in periurban and rural areas in the Amhara region of Ethiopia where HIV prevalence is significant. The program aims to promote HIV prevention by changing attitudes through educating and engaging husbands in issues related to reproductive health, family planning, gender violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and domestic responsibilities. 

Trained male mentors organize meetings with groups of married men on a weekly basis for a period of three months. The sessions last no longer than an hour and are held in casual settings that promote dialogue, self-exploration, and expression of one’s feelings in a nonjudgmental environment. Because the program targets men with very low levels of education, the curriculum includes pictures of contextually relevant situations that are used as teaching aids. Based on existing curriculums from the Population Council/India, Promundo, and EngenderHealth, the Population Council/Ethiopia tailored a curriculum for rural Ethiopian men. The curriculum includes modules on gender, relationships, caring for children and families, drugs and alcohol, HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, and violence. 

Project impact

Nearly 30,000 men have participated in Addis Birhan. The program was recently expanded to 11 new project sites where 33 male mentors have been recruited and trained. Members range in age from 18 to 85 years, with the majority aged 25–39 years. Ninety-four percent are heads of their households; others are sons of household heads.

The endline survey has begun, and study results are expected by the end of 2010. Population Council researchers will measure changes in reproductive health knowledge, gender attitudes, domestic violence, and family planning use, among others.

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Related project

• Biruh Tesfa: Safe Spaces for Out-of-school Girls in Urban Slum Areas of Ethiopia