ABSTRACT

In recent years, Brazil has shown slow but gradual progress regarding men’s involvement in gender equality. Several initiatives have been conducted around the issue by NGOs and universities since the late 1990s and more recently by governmental institutions. This paper focuses on one of them, the Brazilian National Policy of Comprehensive Healthcare to Men, launched in 2009, to facilitate access to health services and programs to approximately 50 million Brazilian men (between the ages of 20 to 59 years old), particularly in primary care. This Policy is oriented by a gender perspective and based upon five thematic axes: Access and User Embracement; Sexual and Reproductive Health; Fatherhood and Care; Prevalent Diseases; and Prevention of Accidents and Violence. Despite the growing attention it has received and some advances attained – such as debates and actions towards fatherhood and its use as a gateway to engage men with health and care issues – much remains to be done until this innovative policy is duly implemented nationwide and men’s specific needs and rights in the health arena are truly recognised.