Welcome to M.A.R.S.
M.A.R.S. (Male Advocates for Responsible Sexuality) is a unique program provided by the Benton County Health Department (Oregon) that aims to help males age 13-25 to learn about reproductive health and sexual responsibility in a safe environment from positive male role models.
The two strategies M.A.R.S. uses to achieve this are:
Why a reproductive health program for males?
Reproductive health funding and services have historically targeted only females. This focus has been successful in significantly reducing teen pregnancy and some sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates. However, the United States continues to have high rates of unintended pregnancies and STIs, including HIV/AIDS. While studies have shown that men have different attitudes and expectations than women about healthcare, they still have reproductive health concerns and needs.
Statistics confirm these needs:
- Less than ¼ of American males are sexually experienced by age 15, but by age 20, nine out of ten males have had intercourse. [Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2002]
- By their late teenage years, just over 2 in 10 sexually experienced men have had only one partner, and almost 3 in 10 have had intercourse. [Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2002]
- Forty-three percent (43%) of a sample of college males reported using condoms incorrectly. [Crosby et al, 2002]
- Over the past thirty years, on average only 2-4% of Title X family planning clinic patients have been males. [Department of Health and Human Services, 2003]
- Seventy-five percent (75%) of women want men to play a greater role in ensuring contraception is always used. [Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 1997]
M.A.R.S. isn't just for guys!
Most people think that M.A.R.S. is only for guys, but the M.A.R.S. curriculum is taught in classrooms to both males and females. M.A.R.S. has also established a Female Referral Program that rewards females for accessing important sexual health services in Benton County, Oregon and for encouraging their male partner(s), friends and family members to learn more about sexual health, relationships and communication through M.A.R.S. appointments.
We hope this M.A.R.S. website will be a place both males and females visit to gain valuable information about relationships and gender roles, contraceptives, STIs and HIV/AIDS, and unintended pregnancy prevention. Use the navigation bars on the top and left sides of this page to move through the different sections of this fun and informative site.
More Resources
Check out these additional resources for women to learn more about sexual and reproductive health
- The National Women's Health Information Center
http://www.womenshealth.gov - Health Information for Girls
http://www.girlshealth.gov - Planned Parenthood
http://www.plannedparenthood.org - Teenwire
http://www.teenwire.com - National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
http://www.teenpregnancy.org - Guttmacher Institute
http://www.agi-usa.org - Sex, Etc.
http://www.sxetc.org - Stay Teen
http://www.stayteen.org