In many developing countries, gender inequality contributes to the continued problem of unwanted pregnancies and unmet contraception needs. The majority of family planning programmes in Asia target only women; however, women's lack of decisionmaking power, even with regard to their own health, hinders their ability to practise family planning. This article describes successes and lessons learned in India and Vietnam from a HealthBridge programme which facilitated male involvement in reproductive health, particularly in family planning and in the use of male-centred contraception. The experience shows that, given the right role models and enabling environments, men are willing to be more fully and positively engaged in reproductive health matters.Dans de nombreux pays en de´veloppement, l'ine´galite´de genre contribue au proble`me qui persiste des grossesses non souhaite´es et des besoins de contraception non satisfaits. La majorite´des programmes de planning familial en Asie ne ciblent que les femmes ; cependant, le manque de pouvoir de prise de de´cisions parmi les femmes, y compris en ce qui concerne leur propre sante´, entrave leur aptitude a`pratiquer le planning familial. Cet article de´crit les enseignements et les succe`s obtenus en Inde et au Vietnam au moyen d'un programme de HealthBridge qui a facilite´la participation des hommes a`la sante´ge´ne´sique, en particulier en matie`re de planning familial et d'utilisation de moyens de contraception base´s sur les hommes. L'expe´rience montre qu'avec les bons mode`les et des environnements positifs, les hommes sont dispose´s à s'engager plus pleinement et positivement sur les questions relatives a`la santeǵ e´ne´sique.En muchos países en desarrollo, la desigualdad de ge´nero fomenta el persistente problema de los embarazos no deseados y de la demanda insatisfecha de anticonceptivos. En Asia, la mayoría de los programas de planeacio´n familiar es dirigida so´lo a las mujeres. Sin embargo, el hecho de que las mujeres no tengan el poder de decisio´n, aun trata´ndose de su propia salud, limita sus posibilidades de ejercer la planeacio´n familiar. Este artículo examina los e´xitos y los aprendizajes resultantes de la aplicacio´n de un programa de HealthBridge que fue implementado en India y en Vietnam, el cual facilito´la participacio´n de los hombres en la salud reproductiva, en particular, en la planeacio´n familiar y en el uso de anticonceptivos para el hombre. Estas experiencias demuestran que, de existir buenos modelos de referencia y ambientes propicios, los hombres manifiestan la voluntad de participar ma´s amplia y positivamente en los asuntos de salud reproductiva.

This review examined existing evidence to investigate the link between tobacco and poverty in Vietnam, to assess the impact of tobacco control policies on employment related to tobacco consumption and to identify information gaps that require further research for the purposes of advocating stronger tobacco control policies. A Medline, PubMed and Google Scholar search identified studies addressing the tobacco and poverty association in Vietnam using extensive criteria. In all, 22 articles related either to tobacco and health or economics, or to the potential impact of tobacco control policies, were identified from titles, abstracts or the full text. 28 additional publications were identified by other means. PHA, LTT and LTTH reviewed the publications and prepared the initial literature review. There is extensive evidence that tobacco use contributes to poverty and inequality in Vietnam and that tobacco control policies would not have a negative impact on overall employment. Tobacco use wastes household and national financial resources and widens social inequality. The implementation and enforcement of a range of tobacco control measures could prove beneficial not only to improve public health but also to alleviate poverty.

ObjectivesThis study sought to increase government, civil society and media attention to the tobacco–poverty connection in Bangladesh, particularly as it relates to bidi-dependent livelihoods.Data sourcesThis study consisted of a literature review that examined the socioeconomic impacts of tobacco farming, the working conditions of tobacco workers and the impact of tobacco on consumers, and a primary research study among bidi workers and users. The research included in-depth and semistructured interviews and focus group discussions among bidi workers and a closed-ended quantitative survey among bidi users.Data synthesisMost bidi worker families earn about $6.40 per 7-day work week, leaving them below the poverty line. The majority of bidi workers are women and children, classified as unpaid assistants, who toil long hours in toxic environments. Bidi users are primarily low-income earners who spend up to 10% of their daily income on bidis; the average proportion of income spent on bidis decreased as income increased. If bidi expenditures were reduced and spent instead on food or local transportation, many higher value jobs could be created. This could also mean better health and nutrition for those currently engaged in bidi work.ConclusionsThe results of this study illustrate the linkages between tobacco and poverty. Tobacco control is not simply about health and the environment, but also about the living conditions of the poorest of the poor. If we are to improve the lives of the poor, we must address the root causes of poverty, which include the production and use of tobacco.

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