ICMR BULLETIN VOL. 29-No.-6-JUNE-1999.pdf

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ISSN 0377-4910

INCREASED MALE RESPONSIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION :
A KEY TO IMPROVING THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
According to the World Health Organization’s
definition, good reproductive health implies that people
are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that
they have the capacity to reproduce and the freedom to
decide if, when and how often to do so. Implicit in this
definition is that (i) men and women will have full
participation and partnership in productive and
reproductive life involving responsibility for the care and
well being of the family; (ii) men will control their fertility
or support women’s contraceptive use to prevent unwanted
pregnancies; (iii) men will assume responsible sexual
behaviour to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs); (iv) men will respect the sexual and
reproductive rights of women; (v) the sex will be
consensual and not exploited because of economic
dependency of women on the partner; (vi) men will not
always hold women responsible in case of infertility;
(vii) men would perceive their role and interests with
the female partners as interdependent and of mutual
concern; and (viii) reproductive health of the elderly will
also be taken care.

However, despite these assertions good reproductive
health eludes many women. There are over 120 million
women in the developing countries’, including 35 mil­
lion in India2, who would like to space or limit their family
size but have no access to affordable contraception. As

a consequence of either not using a contraceptive or due
to contraceptive fMiitire, it is estimated that annually
40-60 million women resort to pregnancy termination,
of which almost 50% are carried out under unsafe con­
ditions3. An estimated 1645 women die every day in the
course of pregnancy and childbirth4, and that too in many
instances while they were carrying an unplanned and/or
unwanted pregnancy. The incidence of abortion is
particularly high among adolescents. According to the
World Bank report5, in developing countries among women
aged 15-44 years almost 19% of the healthy life days are
lost due to maternal causes and another 15% due to STDs
including HIV. In comparison to women, in adult men
12% of healthy life is lost due to reproductive health
problems6.
In addition to carrying the major burden of repro­
ductive ill-health, the women have a much bigger re­
sponsibility to use the appropriate method of family
planning. About 85% of contraceptive users in India are
women. Moreover, among the users of terminal methods
in India, 97.2% were women opting for sterilization7. Men
have three methods viz vasectomy, condom and with­
drawal, at their disposal of which the use of condom or
withdrawal in practice puts women at a much higher risk
of pregnancy as compared to the methods which the women
can use themselves.

Division of Publication & Information, ICMR, New Delhi - 110029

Many women are denied of their basic human rights.
Their weak socio-economic status, and dependency on
the male partner for stable union compels her to accept
reproductive roles which she otherwise might have
objected to. Studies show that not all sex is consensual.
Almost 30% of HIV infection occurs in those women
who have sexual intercourse with a single male partner8.
World-wide studies also show that from 20% to over 50%
of women have been physically abused by a partner8.
Data from some countries further show that approximately
one in six women will be the victim of a completed rape
in her lifetime9. These studies thus show that the large
percentage of reproductive morbidity and mortality suf­
fered by women is the consequence of men’s attitude
towards reproductive health, and sexual and healthrelated behaviour towards their female partner.

Lack of knowledge and access to technologies and
services with quality care, inadequate information about
sexuality s(ed reproduction and limited contraceptive
options offered in the family welfare programme are some
of the factors which contribute to the burden of repro­
ductive ill health. In addition, men’s egoistic behaviour
and their general attitude towards sexuality and repro­
ductive health have strong bearing on the reproductive
health of the entire family. His support or objection has
strong impact on contraceptive use by his partner, and
his sexual behaviour has considerable impact on the
incidence of STDs.
Experiences show that attitudes can be changed. In
India, despite poverty, patriarchal traditions, and prefer­
ence for sons, studies show that men will accept vasec­
tomy when the conditions for service and delivery are
favourable10. The relatively low levels of development
and education inadvertently deprive men from sharing
responsibility towards reproductive health and well be­
ing of the family in general. Men with higher levels of
education and higher economic status and those who reside
in urban areas tend to know more about reproductive health
matters, have higher contraceptive prevalence rate, seek
treatment more often, and protect themselves and their
female partners better from STDs than do other men11.

For responsible parenthood, and for the good health
of the women it is therefore essential to focus on
programmes addressing reproductive health needs and
perceptions of men in all reproductive health matters.
Men must assume greater responsibility for sharing the
burden of practising contraception and to protect the health
and well being of their partner. It necessitates expand­
ing research on increasing awareness of and access to
technologies and services with appropriate quality of health

60

care. It also calls for expanding contraceptive choices
for men by developing a wider array of effective fertil­
ity control methods. Increasing involvement of men in
all matters related to sexual and reproductive health is
the key to improving not only the reproductive health of
men themselves but of the entire family.

This article reviews some of the factors which pre­
clude men from their responsibilities in ensuring good
reproductive health and identifies some of the interven­
tions to help enhance their participation.

Men’s Perceptions about Reproductive Health
A number of surveys and general beliefs have
labelled men as being responsible for the large propor­
tion of reproductive ill health suffered by their female
partners. These reports tend to generalise that men do
not want to regulate their fertility and want morel
children, are not concerned about their partner contract-"
ing STDs, blame their partner in case of infertility, per­
petuate violence against women and are not involved or
concerned about the well being and raising of the
family.

The observation that in Sao Paulo, Brazil 49% of all
new cases of AIDS are among married women who have
only one sexual partner12 supports some of the above
beliefs. Similarly, usage of contraceptives either by
themselves or by the female partner depends on the men’s
perceptions about the method and willingness to use it.
Any attempt by the female partners to influence the
decision of men might invite accusation of infidelity,
physical abuse or even divorce. Many men perceive that
using a condom by them or by the partner reduces sexual
pleasure and that the condom is to be used only when
visiting the sex workers and not with their wives. While(
others think that condom is for the professional sex workers
and not for their wives13. Similarly, some men think that
vasectomy reduces sexual potency and has side effects14.
Violence and sexual abuse by men is another aspect where
women and girls are the most frequent victims. Child
and adolescent sexual abuse also appears to be widespread,
with available data indicating that anything from 6-34%
of women having experienced sexual abuse in childhood
or adolescence9. These observations reflect values, per­
ceptions and beliefs about sexuality and lack of concern
for the female partner.
In contrast to the above mentioned reports, there'Sre
others which suggest that men generally support the use
of contraception and feel concerned about the reproduc­
tive health of the partner. The (jemographic health

survey (DHS) data from 15 countries (11 from subSaharan Africa plus Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco and
Pakistan) showed that the differences in reproductive in­
tentions between men and women are small, thereby
contradicting the belief that men generally want much
larger families than do women15. A study on 77 male
and 101 female family members from the five genera­
tions of a south Indian family showed a gradual decline
in fertility levels with practically no female involvement
in reproductive decision making16. It was primarily the
men who decided to limit the family size. Media moti­
vation rather than the choice of methods was the major
factor which had influenced men to control their
fertility.

of basic amenities in life and are completely ignorant of
the possibilities which can help them have a better qual­
ity of life including reproductive health. High infant or
maternal mortality rates in such families might not be a
reflection of the lack of interest or care on the parfeof the
male partner, but he is probably helpless. Helplessness
could be due to lack of finances, education or aware­
ness. In south-east Asia 43% of eligible couples cannot
afford to spend even 1 % of their monthly income on family
planning, as compared to 10% couples in east Asia19. This
is where the health care providers have a greater role.
This necessitates focusing service programmes to address
the needs and perceptions of men.

A study conducted in Maharashtra indicated that
though most men (57.3%) had a positive attitude towards
their role in family planning, they had not taken the
initiative in accepting contraceptive methods for them­
selves, in particular vasectomy. Another 13.9% of men
had definitely negative attitude towards their role in family
planning and had felt that it was entirely the woman’s
responsibility. The remaining 28.8% did not offer any
opinion to this question either because they had not thought
about it or were noncommittal about their views17.

Reasons for Less Involvement of Men

(

In India the proportion of voluntary sterilization for
men dropped from 70% in 1970 to 15% in 198518. This
sharp decrease may not be a reflection of the withdrawal
of men from their responsibility of pregnancy protec­
tion. The availability of safe, effective and reversible
contraceptives for women probably motivated them to
take charge of their own fertility rather than asking their
male partners to resort to terminal methods.
These reports therefore suggest that the male atti­
tude towards family planning is much more favourable
than originally believed. The variation in the attitude
and behaviour among men about reproductive decisions
and child care could be influenced by education, aware­
ness and the socio-economic status. Studies show that
better educated men and those with higher socio-eco­
nomic status express greater approval of family plan­
ning than do men with less education and low economic
status11. Increased awareness and access to products and
services determine the extent of their use.

These observations thus suggest that it is not that the
men do not want to use family planning methods or not
want to protect themselves or the partner from STDs but
it is their ignorance, and inaccessibility to contraceptives
and services which inadvertently deprive them from getting
involved. One should study the state-of-mind of millions
of families which have no means for living, are deprived

The reasons for low male involvement in reproduc­
tive health are multifaceted. India is a male dominated
society, where women suffer from low esteem and view
themselves as being not important. Years of condition­
ing makes them believe that their primary role is to ensure
procreation and to keep the male partner happy. Sec­
ondly, the economic dependence of the female on the
male makes them more vulnerable to male pressure.
Consequently, females often cannot act effectively to
realize their reproductive intentions in the face of real or
perceived objections from Their husbands or others. Most
of the Indian men consider family planning a women’s
responsibility. Some of the men who oppose family
planning are also concerned about the mode of action of
the contraceptives, safety of the methods, the fear that
the use of contraceptive may encourage extramarital affairs,
and also religious or cultural beliefs that the children are
gift of God. The communication between the couples is
also poor which further perpetuates ill-conceived notions.
Poor participation of men has been compounded by
misinformation regarding male sexuality and limited
availability of scientific data. Male involvement is not
seen as a felt need of the community and the current
programmes have not been able to mobilize community
support. These reasons emphasize the need to develop
programmes to target men explicitly. Increased involve­
ment of men in reproductive health of the family is likely
to be appreciated by their partners as many studies show
that a large number of women are motivated to control
fertility20,21.

Strategies for Improving Involvement of Men
Men, “the forgotten 50% of family planning are
ready to take part if only asked. If people really make

61

vasectomy or the condom available to men, then the men
will come along and use them. The key bottleneck is on
the side of the providers - not the men” says Malcolm
Potts22. This calls for increasing the awareness of men
about useful information and accessibility of products
and services. This includes increasing contraceptive options
for men, supporting women’s contraceptive use, improving
sexual behaviour and safe sex practices, and narrowing
the gender gap to empower women to have better con­
trol on their fertility.

Increasing Contraceptive Choices for Men
Increasing contraceptive choices for men will en­
courage them to share the responsibility in fertility regu­
lation with their partners. In a survey conducted by the
Marie Stopes International in 1997, out of 500 vasectomized men 27% said they chose vasectomy to relieve
their partner from using contraception23. Similarly, in
another study involving 218 couples from six countries
(Bangladesh, Kenya, Mexico, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and
the United States) almost all couples cited concern for
women’s health as a motivating factor for not wanting
more children24. However, there are also apprehensions
that many women particularly the adolescents would prefer
to protect themselves by using a contraceptive rather than
believing their partner. A study among US university
students found that more men than women lie about their
sexual lives, mostly in order to convince a partner they
love them or that they are safe, in order to have sex with
them25. Since it is the women who has to bear the con­
sequences of unprotected sexual intercourse, it is not clear
as to what extent they could trust their male partners to
use a non-barrier contraceptive consistently and effec­
tively. In a stable monogamous union with considerable
trust between the sexes it is likely that the availability of
contraceptives which men can use will help them share
greater responsibility with their partner.

Studies have shown that the unmet need for contra­
ception is related to the number of contraceptive meth­
ods and services accessible to the potential user. The
greatest unmet need is among those who have the least
access to family planning programmes’. An analysis of
the DHS data from 44 countries showed that for each
additional method of family planning which is made widely
available in the country, the contraceptive prevalence rate
increases by 3.3% and the unmet need is met by 1.7%26.
These figures clearly speak for expanding contraceptive
choices if the couples are to be empowered to control
their fertility. Increasing contraceptive options for men

62

necessitates increased use of the available contraceptive
methods and development of newer technologies.
Accessibility and use of available methods

Condom, vasectomy and withdrawal are the three
options at the disposal of men to avert unwanted preg­
nancy. All the three approaches are safe, easy to use and
effective if used correctly and consistently. However,
in spite of this, these methods are used by less than 10%
.of the contraceptive users. Increased use of these meth­
ods necessitates greater awareness, need to dispel myths
and misconceptions, sustained motivation and access to
contraceptives and services.

Condom use is not a preferred method among couples
with a stable relationship. It is labelled as a method which
interferes with sexual pleasure’3. Moreover, contracep- A;
tive efficacy of condom use in real practice is less than W;
that of most methods which are at the disposal of women.
Nevertheless, condom use is the only effective solution
to prevent both unwanted pregnancy and STDs includ­
ing H1V/AIDS. To enhance the acceptability of condoms,
a variety of flavoured, coloured, scented and ribbed
condoms are being developed. In addition, the design of
the condoms is being changed from “tight fit” to
•“bagginess” for better sensation and friction at the right
places. The use of one such condom “inSpiral” was found
to enhance sexual pleasure. When compared with seven
other varieties of condoms marketed in USA, the inSpiral
was found most acceptable27.
Recent surveys also indicate that condoms are used
most often outside marriage where there is a risk of STDs28.
This calls for interventions for behavioural change to
motivate men to use condoms to protect their families
from disease. This also calls for empowerment of women
tcxpropose to their male partners, in case of perceived
risk, to use condom without fear of their reaction.

In addition to promoting the use of condom, there is
a need to assess the effectiveness of vaginal microbicides
to prevent pregnancy as well as transmission of STDs.
Recent studies in Zimbabwe show that several men might
prefer microbicides, if shown to be safe and effective,
over condoms as the later interferes with the act and reduces
pleasure29.
Vasectomy though safe, effective and easy to per­
form is still an under used method of family planning.
In comparison to 150 million women who undergo tubal
ligation only 45 million men world-wide rely on vasec­
tomy as a method of contraception. In India over 90%

men claim to have heard of vasectomy but only 2.8%
couples use this method7. Vasectomy does not affect
masculinity, male hormones which help to produce germ
cells or the sperm production. However, the possible
association of vasectomy with increased risk for pros­
tate cancer is still being debated. Results of a study of
more than 1000 men in Mumbai suggested an associa­
tion between vasectomy and prostate cancer, particularly
among men who underwent vasectomy at least 20 years
prior to the diagnosis of cancer or who were at least 40
years old when they had vasectomy30. On the other hand;
studies carried out under the aegis of the ICMR have
dispelled the misbelief that vasectomy has adverse side
effects on the cardiovascular system31 or increased the
risk of prostate cancer32.
Regarding the association between vasectomy and
testicular cancer, follow up in a study in Denmark in
which 73,917 vasectomized men were identified from
hospitals and pathology registers between 1977 and 1989
demonstrated no increased risk of testicular cancer in
the group33. A large proportion of men still believe that
the procedure impairs sexual performance and strength
and is not safe. The providers have obviously not been
able to reach the potential users and have not helped to
dispel these misbeliefs. Correct information is essential
for any promotional effort. Men need to be informed,
through media as well as interpersonal communication,
of the advantages of vasectomy over other methods. In
addition, the programmes should address the perceptions
of men about the method. Moreover, the vasectomy should
be made reversible, and the no-scalpel approach needs
to be promoted further as it is simpler to perform and
has a lower rate of postoperative complications.

The withdrawal method of family planning, also
referred to as coitus interruptus, does not provide high
contraceptive efficacy. It is reported to have a failure
rate of 4%, however, in real practice the failure rate is as
high as 19%34. Couples who lack knowledge or access
to modern methods of contraception rely on the with­
drawal method. However, they have to be highly com­
mitted and knowledgeable about the physiology of the
menstrual cycle. Although a substantial number of couples
from many countries, particularly Turkey, Rumania and
the Czech Republic, report relying on the withdrawal
method35, the precise number of users and the contra­
ceptive efficacy of the method still needs to be studied.

Development of newer methodsfor men
Long-acting reversible methods of male contracep­
tion are yet not available. Even the most promising

approaches being developed are at least a decade away
from general use.
Hormonal methods

The weekly intramuscular injection of testosterone
enanthate (200 mg/dose) over six months has been shown
to induce azoospermia on an average in 63% of adult
men and render such men infertile3637. Sperm produc­
tion or fertility was restored within seven months after
the treatment was stopped. A high level of acceptability
was found in both the recipients and their partners in
spite of the need for weekly injections. However, induc­
tion of azoospermia in almost 100% population has not
yet been demonstrated. Moreover, there is a need for
longer acting androgens to obviate the need for weekly
injection of androgens.
The use of a combination of androgen and progestin
is another viable hormonal method of male contracep­
tion. Oligospermia and azoospermia are achieved much
faster and in a larger number of subjects using a combi­
nation regimen as compared to androgens alone38. Ad­
ditional advantage of the combination regimen is that it
may reduce the risk for lipid, behavioural and prostate
changes that could arise from the continued exposure to
androgen alone.

Vas occlusion

Interruption of sperm transport through the epididy­
mis is another promising method of male contraception.
Guha and associates39 have shown that injection of sty­
rene maleic anhydride (SMA, 60 mg) in a solvent sys­
tem of dimethylsulphoxide into the vas deference induces
complete azoospermia. Twelve adult healthy men who
were administered the drug were rendered infertile over
the one year study period and the procedure did not lead
to any clinical complications in the urogenital system
and other parts of the body.
More recently, liquid silicone is also being tried to
form cured-in-place plugs following injection in the vas40.
However, the results of the initial studies carried out in
Indonesia and China have shown a high frequency of
vas rupture following percutaneous intravasal injection
of silicone and the studies carried out in The Nether­
lands have shown a poor occlusion rate as evidenced by
a relatively high number of sperms in the ejaculate com­
pared to subjects with vasectomy. These studies need to
be extended to determine the optimum volume and pres­
sure characteristics needed to achieve complete vas
occlusion without causing any damage to the vas.

63

Immunocontraceptive methods
The possible target antigens suitable for
immunocontraception in the male are gonadotrophin
releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle stimulating hormone
(FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), androgens and sperm­
specific antigens involved in the maturation of sperma­
tozoa in the epididymis or in sperm-egg interactions.

Immunization against GnRH has been shown to pre­
vent gonadotrophin release resulting in the regression of
Leydig cells and suppression of testosterone production •
and spermatogenesis in rodents and non-human primates41-42. Immunization of men, with prostate cancer or
benign prostatic hypertrophy, against GnRH-tetanus toxoid
conjugate or GnRH-D-Lys6-diphtheria toxoid conjugate
had antifertility effects in addition to decreasing the lev­
els of prostate specific antigen and causing shrinkage of
the prostate mass43. The major limitation of a GnRHbased vaccine would be the requirement of androgen
supplementation to maintain normal sexual behaviour.

Immunization against FSH has also been shown to
have antifertility effects. Active immunization of five
men with oFSH produced antibodies capable of binding
and neutralizing the bioactivity of hFSH44. The sperm
counts were reduced by about 33% in four and 64% in
the fifth man. These encouraging results suggest further
extension of the clinical study with FSH derived vac­
cine.
A number of protein antigens have been identified
on the sperm surface which are not present on various
somatic cell plasma membranes. Studies carried out in
rodents have shown that immunization against some of
these antigens impairs fertility. The antigens with po­
tential application in immunocontraception are LDH-C ,
PH-20, SP-10, HSA-63, FA-1, FA-2, CS-1, hSPI, 26kDa
and 80kDa proteins. These antigens are at various stages
of evaluation in laboratory animals but have not yet entered
the phase of clinical evaluation.

Role of Women in Men Taking to Contraception
The men are not highly inclined to use the available
contraceptives methods viz vasectomy, condom and the
withdrawal method. However, studies show that their
female partner can motivate them to use a contraceptive.
A qualitative study from six countries (Bangladesh, Kenya,
Mexico, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and USA) involving women
and their partners who had decided to have vasectomy
showed that in such cases the women had discussed the
procedure with'their partners and had satisfied them about

64

the advantages of vasectomy as compared co the female­
dependent methods24. The women had also satisfied
themselves about the safety of the procedure from people
who had had a sterilization before asking their partner to
undergo vasectomy. Vasectomy was often chosen because
it was perceived as easier to perform, less expensive or
because a physician had advised the female partner against
tubal sterilization.

The use of condom also requires more joint effort
and interaction between the couple during sexual activ­
ity. Its effectiveness probably improves with greater
interspousal communication. Studies show that some
women prefer gently encouraging a man to wear a con­
dom, whereas others think they should convince a man
rationally and appeal to his sense of duty to protect the
family against STDs including HIV/AIDS45. Similarly,
the high motivation of men in a study evaluating the
contraceptive efficacy of weekly injections of testoster­
one enanthate came from their spouse’s urging the men
to find an alternative method and from the men’s desire
to take responsibility for their own fertility46.
These studies show that contraceptive use .by men
increases when couples have better communication.
Women who are empowered through education, economic
security and mobility are more likely to discuss with their
partners options for contraceptive use. When the wife
perceives communication with her husband to be effec­
tive, she is better able to express her point of view and
more likely to assert her own interests. Under these cir­
cumstances the choice is more likely to be vasectomy or
another male method47. On the other hand, when the wife
is unable to communicate with her husband about con­
traception, she is more likely to take the traditional role
of assuming the contraceptive burden herself.

Supporting Women’s Contraceptive Use
As mentioned above, men have very limited contra­
ceptive choices at their disposal. Condom use is per­
ceived to reduce sexual pleasure and is not preferred unless
it is for prevention of pregnancy as well as STD, vasec­
tomy is not reversible in ail instances, and the withdrawal
method has a high failure rate and requires high com­
mitment to interrupt sexual activity at a time when it is
nearing its peak. On the other hand, a number of contra­
ceptive choices are available for women to control fer­
tility. The methods are safe and effective. It is therefore
essential that men who cannot use one of the available
male methods of contraception support their partners to
use an appropriate method.

Men and even their parents have considerable influ­
ence on the women using contraceptives. Of course it
requires communication between the couple and deci­
sion needs to be taken jointly as to when and how often
to have children. However, one of the frequent reasons
given by women for not beginning or continuing to use
contraception is their partner’s objection48. In the fami­
lies where women use contraception, men have a greater
role in influencing their partner in choosing the right
contraceptive, and to ensure its correct and consistent
use. Male participation is also essential if a barrier method
is to be used.
Studies have shown that men who are educated about
reproductive health issues are more likely to support their
partner’s decision and to encourage public policies that
result in women receiving the reproductive health care
they need”. Similarly, the reproductive health programmes
are more effective in women when men are involved in
some way49. Better communication between the husband
and the wife on their reproductive health goals and ac­
ceptance of contraceptive methods had a positive im­
pact on the compliance50. Women generally make a greater
number of visits to the antenatal maternal health clinics
when their husbands had attended an informational ses­
sion at the clinic, compared with those whose husbands
did not attend5’. A project in rural Mali addressed this
goal by using men to promote family planning in local
communities52. Many women reported that male com­
munity workers had changed their husbands’ attitudes
towards family planning and had generated more open
communication between spouses about family planning.
These studies suggest that men’s support to their
partner to use contraceptive and reproductive health
services helps to improve the reproductive health of the
entire family. This necessitates that the men are aware
of the fertility regulating technologies, reproductive health
services and have effective interspousal communication.
When men are actively involved and informed, contra­
ceptive acceptance increases and fertility tends to drop.

Improving Sexual Behaviour and Safe Sex
Human sexuality and gender relations are closely
interrelated and together affect the ability of men and
women to achieve and maintain sexual health and man­
age their reproductive needs53. It is therefore essential
that sex is consensual, safe and it should not result in
unwanted pregnancy. This can be achieved by proper
communication between the partners, use of appropriate
barrier method in case of perceived risk of infection and
by using an appropriate contraceptive.

In most societies, particularly among the develop­
ing communities, men often take the initiative for sexual
activity. Women normally perceive their role as a sub­
missive partner and to please their husbands. Even in
the case of perceived risk for STDs, it is the mtfh who
decide whether to use a barrier method or not. Men
therefore have an enormous responsibility to ensure that
sex is safe and enjoyable for both the partners. It neces­
sitates dissociation of sexual risk-taking behaviour from
masculine pride.
In India almost 11 million pregnancies are terminated
annually of which most are due to the non use of any
contraceptive by the couple. Similarly, reports show that
as many as 5-7%' of the sexually active adults suffer from
STDs54. Prevention of unwanted pregnancy and STDs
lies in fundamental change in sexual behaviour. Non
use of contraceptives, resistance to condom use in case
of risk of STD, or multiple sex partners intensify the risk
for unwanted pregnancy and STDs.

Studies have shown that the adolescents, in particular,
face an excessive risk of unintended pregnancy and STDs
because of their sexual behaviour and lack of information
or little-or-no access to sexual and reproductive health
services. A recent study of 1311 students from Chandigarh
found that 15% were sexually active, with 30% of these
having more than one partner. Condom use was reported
by 24% of the* heterosexual, 11 % of the bisexuals and
7% of the hbm'dsexuals55. In a survey in Maharashtra,
sexual behavibiir of460 married and 589 unmarried men
was studied using questionnaire and focus group
discussions56. Premarital sexual practices were found
more among the higher occupational and educational
groups and those who were of comparatively higher age
at marriage. White collar workers had the highest
proportion frequenting commercial sex workers.
Approximately 10% married men had extramarital affairs
and 5% engaged in commercial sex. Among men who
had heard of AIDS, they essentially knew only the name
of the syndrome for which they expressed some mediainduced fear.

The sexual behaviour of migrant workers is also of
great concern. Awareness of STDs, AIDS and condoms
is especially low among such people. In a survey, 100
truck drivers, from 5 states who passed through a check­
post in Calcutta, were interviewed regarding their socio­
economic characteristics, life-style, knowledge and attitude
related to STDs and AIDS and visit to female sex workers57.
Of these, 97% reported visits to female sex workers. Lack
of self control, being away from the family, easy
availability of female sex workers, and consumption of

65

drugs/food which arouses libido were cited as the
compelling factors for resorting to paid sex. Use of
condoms by the truck drivers was not consistent, and
their knowledge about its availability and proper use was
also poor; 63 truckers reported to have never used it, but
those who used it did so only occasionally. The majority
of truckers in India have sexual relations with 50 to 100
different female sex workers in a year, thereby making
themselves one of the most vulnerable high-risk groups
for receiving and transmitting STDs and HIV infections.

The truck drivers also influence their helpers who
are generally adolescents. In a survey involving 210 such
helpers, in the age group of 15 to 19 years, who accom­
pany the truck drivers, 80% were illiterate, 88.1% were
away from home for 24-28 days a month, 25.2% had a
history of sexual activity, commonly with prostitutes58.
Almost 94% of these adolescents had engaged in unpro­
tected sexual intercourse, 98.5% of them had not heard
of HIV and AIDS, 4.3% had a history of STD and had
been treated by general practitioners.

Special programmes are required to educate our people
about the risks of unprotected sex and of using drugs so
as to help them prevent contracting HI V/AIDS. The main
objective of the educational programmes should be to
generate awareness, and to improve the knowledge, per­
ception and attitudes of different groups of people about
the nature and severity of the problem, the modes of
transmission of infection, the ways and means of pre­
vention and control, about the prevailing myths and
misconceptions, and the need for sympathetic treatment
of infected persons in the family and society59. Adoles­
cents are most vulnerable. It is essential to start sex
education among the high school students who are at risk
and are in a position to benefit from the education. For
those who are not privileged to go for education, com­
munication through media and personal contact is most
essential. Both men and women must adopt the respon­
sible sexual behaviour of avoiding multiple sex partners
or else always using condoms.

However, in real life inequalities between men and
women do exist at all stages of life. At birth a male child
is preferred over a female, a male child gets more love,
affection and care including nutrition than a female child,
illiteracy is much higher among females than males, and
women receive less wages than men. A recent report
estimates that in India 17% of female mortality is due to
gender discrimination and gross neglect60. Almost 30%
of HIV infection occurs in those women who have sexual
intercourse with a single male partner8. World-wide studies
also show that from 20% to over 50% of women have
been beaten by a male partner. On the other hand, the
burden of contraceptive usage, consequences of unin­
tended pregnancies and induced abortions, responsibili­
ties of child bearing and rearing, and STDs are borne
more by women.
In many societies, the gender gap is primarily due to
the culture in which a female child is brought up61. Girls
from childhood are inculcated with the view that their
primary role is to ensure procreation and to keep the male
partner happy. Secondly, the economic dependence of
the female on the male make them more vulnerable to
male pressure. Consequently, females often cannot act
effectively to realize their reproductive intentions in the
face of real or perceived objections from their husbands
or others.

If the reproductive health and the quality of life in
general of the family are to be improved the gender gap
needs to be narrowed down. In fact women’s reproductive
health and rights are central to human development and
for sustainable human development it is essential that
the gender gap is narrowed. This calls for respect for
human rights of all people, equitably sharing the resources,
and taking responsibility for our actions towards each
other.

Narrowing the Gender Gap

Men must not perceive that the empowered women
is a threat to them in any manner. On the contrary,
empowered women are essential for the betterment of
the present and future generations. An enabling
environment is a prerequisite to women’s empowerment.

Gender role refers to the different roles and behaviour
expected from men and women in a particular culture or
society. In a family or a society men and women are
expected to be equal in status, with full control of their
own lives and with equal opportunities. The Constitu­
tion of India also assures equality of status and of oppor­
tunity for all citizens. It specifically prohibits discrimi­
nation against women..

Studies have shown that woman’s status, education
and economic independence are positively linked not only
to her reproductive health but also to better health of the
entire family. Woman’s control over fertility empowers
her to complete her education, seek job opportunities and
plan the family size. The preventable mortality and
morbidity of the infants and mothers are less in families
with more educational and financial resources. In Kerala,

66

W'

23% of women work at places other than their own farms
as compared to 5-7% in states like Uttar Pradesh and
Rajasthan which have high fertility and infant mortality
rates62.

Narrowing the gender gap would eventually help in
(i) sharing contraceptive responsibilities; (ii) men not
always holding their wives responsible for infertility;
(iii) men’s support for women’s control of their own
fertility and reproductive rights, including the right not
to bear unwanted children; (iv) men participating only
in consensual sexual relations; (v) reducing gender based
violence; and (vi) men seeking to understand masculin­
ity and their own behaviour towards women and other
men from a gender perspective. It is therefore essential
that the reproductive health research planners adopt a
gender-sensitive research agenda that addresses the roles
of both men and women.

Initiatives in India to Increase Male Involvement
The International Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD) held in Cairo during September 1994
marked a major shift in the thinking on issues of popu­
lation and development53. Almost 180 governments in­
cluding that of India agreed to shift from the demographic
emphasis in family planning to meeting the reproduc­
tive health needs of individuals, both in terms of care
and information. For India this has also meant moving
away from target-driven family planning services to
providing a broader range of health care to enable indi­
viduals to achieve sound reproductive health across the
life span. In relation to the greater involvement of men,
ICPD emphasized that human sexuality and gender rela­
tions are closely interrelated and together affect the ability
of men and women to achieve and maintain sexual health
and manage their reproductive lives. Equal relationship
between men and women in matters of sexual relations
and reproduction, including full respect for the physical
integrity of the human body, requires mutual respect and
willingness to accept responsibility for the consequences
of sexual behaviour.
The intention of the Government of India (GOI) to
implement the Plan of Action adopted at the ICPD was
reflected when the policies based on demographic ob­
jectives inforce since 1962 were abolished soon after the
ICPD63. The contraceptive method-specific targets to
monitor family planning performance, which were treated
as central to programme success, were abolished, at least
in some states to start with, in April 1996. In addition,

the GOI introduced reforms in family welfare programmes
by deciding to do away with reproductive health
programmes which were reflection of male domination,
and were being implemented through incentives or co­
ercion. Instead, the GOI has introduced programmes which
are gender sensitive, decided after assessing the percep­
tions and needs of people, and promoted by way of cre­
ating awareness and by establishing services with qual­
ity of care.

The Ninth Five-Year Plan document of the GOI, for
the period 1997-2002, has also emphasized on the greater
need to promote male participation in the planned
parenthood moveme'nt with increased emphasis on using
male contraceptive methods. The Sub-Committee on the
National Committee on Reproductive Health Research
Needs Assessment also recommended to the GOI in 1997
to encourage research to understand the knowledge,
perceptions, attitude and practices of the male in regard
to contraception and other reproductive health
responsibilities with an endeavour to increase their
participation64. The Sub-Committee also recommended
that high priority be given to develop new male
contraceptives.
Another initiative by the GOI to improve reproduc­
tive health of people is reflected in the Reproductive and
Child Health (RCH) Programme launched in October 1997.
The RCH programme is based on the conviction that the
parents will keep the family size small if they are as­
sured of good health and longevity of their children. This
also implies that the mothers will go through pregnancy
and childbirth safely. The RCH programme thus inte­
grates all interventions of fertility regulation, maternal
and child health with reproductive health of both men
and women. Implementation of the objectives of the RCH
programme is expected to contribute to, in addition to
others, reducing the unmet'need for family planning
particularly for spacing methods and by increasing con­
traceptive use by men.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has
also started supporting research programmes addressed
to male involvement in reproductive health and has
constituted a Task Force on Male Reproductive Health.
The Task Force has a wide perspective, covering various
biomedical and operational aspects addressing to fertility
regulation, STDs and reproductive cancers.
The Institute for Research in Reproduction (IRR),
Mumbai, has initiated a number of studies to evaluate
the family size preferences, gender bias, choice of

67

contraceptive method, awareness, attitudes and practices
of family planning, inter-spouse communication and their
involvement in general reproductive well being of their
wives in urban as well as rural areas. The studies
suggest that it is partly the lack of awareness, knowl­
edge, initiatives to know about the methods and access
to accurate information about methods which deter men
from accepting greater responsibility in contraceptive use14.
In addition, the IRR has initiated strategies for interven­
tion at both community and clinic levels.

Since Cairo conference, the GOI has also supported
a number of workshops to assess the perceptions and needs
of men. The emphasis has been to identify and prioritize
the key problems which are holding men from sharing
the responsibility in matters related to sexual and
reproductive life. In addition, workshops have been
conducted to assess the utilization of available
contraceptives f5r men and to encourage them to share
responsibility with their female partner by using one of
the male methods.
A number of non-governmental organization (NGOs),
in particular the Family Planning Association of India,
the Population Council, Parivar Seva Sanstha and Ru­
ral Women’s Social Education Centre (RUWSEC) have
also initiated a number of programmes to increase male
involvement in reproductive health65. The initiatives to
include men were motivated by a concern about women’s
reproductive health which showed little improvement
without men’s support and active involvement.

Efforts to enhance men’s participation in reproductive
health are still limited. The programmes initiated by the
GOI, research institutions and NGOs will have positive
impact on improving the involvement of men which in
turn will help improve the health of their partners and
their own. If men are brought into a wider range of
reproductive health services in such a way that the men
are supported as equal partners and responsible parents,
as well as clients in their own right, better outcome will
be observed among women and men and will be reflected
in reproductive health indicators such as (i) contraceptive
acceptance and continuation; (ii) safer sexual practices;
(iii) use of reproductive health services; and (iv) reduction
in reproductive morbidity and mortality66. Efforts in this
direction need greater commitment.

the last 50 years focused on meeting the contraceptive
needs of women. However, in most families, men are
the dominant decision makers and women’s reproductive
preferences and behaviour are governed by them. The
family size and the spacing between the children are
generally decided by men. Men also influence the women
about deciding upon the type of contraceptive they should
use. Men are also greatly responsible for the large
proportion .of sexually transmitted diseases acquired by
their partners. Understanding of responsibility and greater
involvement of men in all matters related to reproductive
health of the family is therefore critically important.
Lack of knowledge, non-availability of acceptable
contraceptives and lack of services with quality of care
deter men from sharing the responsibility in reproduc­
tive health matters. In addition, it is their risk taking
sexual behaviour which adds on to the burden of reproa
ductive ill health suffered by the men themselves and by
’
their family. Efforts need to be made to inculcate the
feeling of responsibility and of a participatory approach
in reproductive health. Experiences show that men can
be motivated to change their attitudes towards reproduc­
tive health and sexuality. The reproductive health
programmes should (i) encourage men to have better
communication with their partner so as to decide mutu­
ally the reproductive health issues; (ii) educate men to
dissociate sexual risk-taking behaviour from masculine
pride and ensure that sex is safe and enjoyable for both
the partners; (iii) help narrow the gender gap; (iv) dispel
the misbelief that the empowered women is a threat to
them in any manner. On the contrary, they should appre­
ciate that empowerment of women is essential for the
betterment of the family and even for the future genera­
tions; and (v) provide sexual and reproductive health
information and services to men to prevent unintended
pregnancies and STDs. To formulate these programmes
extensive research is required to understand the percep­
tions and needs of men about fertility regulation and sexual
behaviour, and development of appropriate services with
quality of care. It is essential that the programmes start
addressing the needs of men early in their teens. Focus­
ing programmes on increasing male involvement does
not imply that the family welfare programmes should
now completely shift their focus on men. Simultaneous
efforts to further improve the services and quality of care
for women must go on.

Summary
There is a general belief that fertility regulation is
the woman’s responsibility and men have no role to play.
Even the family welfare programmes of India have during

68

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This write-up has been contributed by Dr Chander P. Puri,
Deputy Director. (Sr. Grade), Mr. D. Balaiah, Assistant
Director, and Dr K. Sankaran Iyer, Deputy Director (Sr. Grade)
Institute for Research in Reproduction, Mumbai-400012.

flh
W-

"

ICMR NEWS
The following meetings of various technical groups/
committees of the Council were held :

the Task Force group meeting of the WHO on Fumonisin
Bl at Geneva (May 10-14, 1999).

Meetings of the Task Forces (TFs)ZExpert Groups
(EGs)/Project Review Committees (PRCs) and other
meetings held at New Delhi:

Dr. Srikanth Tripathy, Assistant Director, National
AIDS Research Institute, Pune, participated in the
International Symposium on HIV, Leukaemia and
Opportunistic Cancers at Marrakech, Morocco (May 2328, 1999).

Meeting of the Toxicology
Review Panel of the Council

May 5 and 18, 1999

TF on establishing laboratory
based surveillance network to
monitor antimicrobial resistance

May 19, 1999

PRC on Tuberculosis and Leprosy

May 27, 1999

TF on Disability Prevention

June 7-8, 1999

EG on study of vaccine wastage
during routine immunization in the
Universal Immunization Programme

June 9, 1999

EG on Double Fortified Salt

June 14, 1999

PRC on Oncology and Pathology

June 14, 1999

Participation of ICMR Scientists in Scientific Events :
Dr. V. Ramesh Bhat, Dy. Director (.Sr.Grade), Na­
tional Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, participated in

Dr. M.D. Gupte, Director, Institute for Research in
Medical Statistics, Chennai, participated in the workshop
on Leprosy Prophylaxis at Pohnpei, Micronesia (May
25-27, 1999). Dr. Gupte also participated in the work­
shop on Future of Leprosy Research in the Post-genome
Era at Bethesda (May 30 - June 3, 1999).

Dr.Dipika Mohanty, Director, Institute of Immuno­
haematology, Mumbai, participated in the seventh
International Conference on Thalassaemia at Bangkok
(May 31 - June 4, 1999).
Dr. N.K. Ganguly, Director-General, ICMR, partici­
pated in the meeting of the Vaccine Advisory Commit­
tee of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS) and WHO at Geneva (June 14-16, 1999).

ICMR AIDED SYMPOSIA/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS/COURSES/CONFERENCES
Symposium/Seminar/Workshop/
Course/Conference

Date & Place

Contact Address

Symposium^ on Bone Health

June 7, 1999;
(at .Hyderabad)

Dr. K. Krishnaswamy, Director, National Institute
of Nutrition, Hyderabad-500007.

Intemationl Symposium on Transcription Assembly
and Nucleic Acid-Protein Interaction

June 7-8, 1999;
(at Bangalore)

Prof. V. Nagaraja, Convenor of the Symposium,
Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology,
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012.

Workshop on Research Methodology and Writing a
Scientific Paper for Publication

June 18,1999;
(at Perundurai)

Dr. J. Mohansundaram, Professor, Department
of Pharmacology, Perundurai Medical College,
Perundurai-638053.

Workshop on Planning Action Oriented Research for
Primary Health Care

June 19-28, 1999;
(at Dehradun)

Dr. D. Anand, President, SAKSHI, D-332, Hnd
floor, Defence Colony, New Delhi-110024.

COUNCIL’S TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR 1999-2000
Leprosy

Reproductive Biology

At the Central JALMA Institute for Leprosy, Agra:

At the Institutefor Research in Reproduction, Mumbai:

•

Training Course for Medical Officers Working under
the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (Septem­
ber, 1999).

•

Training Course in Molecular Techniques in Ovarian
Function (September 27-October 2, 1999).

71

•

Training Course on Cytological Detection of Repro­
ductive Tract Infections (December 13-17, 1999).

Endocrinology

Medical Entomology:
At the Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry:
•

At the National Institute ofNutrition,, Hyderabad:

•

Annual Certificate Course on Endocrinological
Techniques and their Application (August 1 September 15, 1999).

Nutrition

Biomedical Statistics
At the Institutefor Research in Medical Statistics, Chennai:
•

Basic Course in Statistics for Medical Officers (July
1999).

•

Training Course in Field Epidemiology (November,
1999).

At the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad:
•

M.Sc. in Applied Nutrition (June 1,1999-February 28,
2000).

•

Postgraduate Certificate Course in Nutrition (Decem­
ber 1, 1999-February 28,2000).

Postgraduate Diploma Course in Medical Entomology
(from July 1999).

Haematology
At the Institute of Immunohaematology, Mumbai:

Laboratory Animal Technology

•

At the National Centre for Laboratory Animal Science,
National Institute ofNutrition, Hyderabad:

Training Course in Transfusion Medicine for Blood
Bank Medical Officers (August 31 -October 29,1999).

•

Training Course in Blood Group Serology and Blood
Bank Methodology for Blood Bank Technicians
(August 31-September 30, 1999).

•

Training Course in Advanced Haematology and
Immunohaematology (October 11-29, 1999).

•

Training Course for Laboratory Animal Technicians
(June 14-July30, 1999).

•

Training Course for Laboratory Animal Supervisors
(September 1-November 30, 1999).

INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
The ICMR Task Force on Male Reproductive Health (MRH) which met on December 1-2, 1998
at ICMR Headquarters, New Delhi has identified the following priority areas for research. Interested
scientists may submit proposal in the following areas for possible financial support by the Council.
1.

72

Male fertility regulation:

(i)

Precl inical and clinical evaluation of potential male contraceptives.

(ii)

New techniques for interruption
the epididymis and vas deferens.

(iii)

Understanding the molecular, cellular and biochemical aspects of (a) spermatogenesis, (b)
sperm maturation, function, and transport, and (c) sperm-egg interaction.

of sperm

function

and

transport within

2.

Increased involvement of men in maintaining reproductive health of self and the family.

3.

Prevention and control of reproductive tract infections (RTIs), sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs) including HIV/AIDS.

4.

Adolescent reproductive health including development of responsible sexual behaviour and healthy
life-style.

5.

Prevention and/or management of male reproductive disorders including male infertility.

6.

Reproductive health of elderly males.

guidance for international collaboration
FOR RESEARCH IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

An Indo-Foreign Cell (IFC) was set up in the ICMR, in
the early 1980s to coordinate collaboration in biomedical
research between India and other countries/ international
agencies. By and large, biomedical research/health sciences have
figured in practically every bilateral agreement in the field of
Science and Technology. In addition, there have been a few
specific agreements signed by the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare with other countries as well as those signed directly
by the ICMR. The purposes of these agreements have been
for: (i) exchange of scientific information; (ii) exchange of
scientists/technicians and joint execution of scientific projects,
including support in the procurement of scientific equipments;
and (iii) organisation of joint scientific meetings, seminars,
workshops, symposia on identified subjects of cooperation.

Applications for research projects involving foreign assistance/collaboration in biomedical/health research are to be routed
through ICMR for placing before the Health Ministry’s Screen­
ing Committee (HMSC).
The procedures/instructions as well as application format
vary from country to country and from agency to agency. The
information provided in this write-up is based on the experi­
ences of investigators to assist them in developing IndoForeign collaborative proposals for research in biomedical sci­
ences.

Whom to Contact for Information on Available Opportuni­
ties, Forms and Other Details :
1. Dr. G. Nath, Scientist G /Adviser, (for West Europe, Ger­
many, France, etc.)’, Mrs.Sadhana Relia, Scientist F (for Italy,
European Commission, UNESCO); Dr. Sulbha Gupta, Scien­
tist F (for US); Mr. M. Bandyopadhyay, Scientist F (for Viet­
nam); Dr. Rajiv Sharma, Scientist F, (for Japan, Hungary).

International Division, Ministry of Science & Technology,
Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhavan,
New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110016
(Tel. 696757,
6962819, Fax 6862418, 6864570, 6863847).

2. For assistance from France under IFCPAR mechanism :
Dr.P.G.S. Mony, Director, Indo-French Centre for the Promo­
tion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR), Zone V, Core A, Ground
Floor, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi110003.(Tel. 4648365,4648366 , Fax 4648632)
3. For Indo-German arid Indo-UK. collaboration: No spe­
cific format is prescribed. Proposals are to be prepared using
section B of ICMR Ad-hoc research project application form.

4. For Indo-US collaboration : The Science Office, US Em­
bassy in India, Shantipath, Chankayapuri, New Delhi -110 021.
(Tel. 4190011, 6113033,6889033, Fax 4190018)
NOTE: Proposalsfor the US-India Rupee Fund are no longer
being accepted. NIH Post doctoral Fellowships operated

through the ICMR have also been terminated by the US au­
thorities.

However, investigators may consider submitting the pro­
posals for alternative Indo-US Programmes like NIH Funding
in Dollars, for which the following procedures are to be adopted :
(i)

Ascertain from US Collaborator whether he/she would
be willing to submit the proposal for NIH Grants (R01
projects).

(ii)

If the US Collaborator agrees to do so, they may obtain
form no.PHS 398 (latest version) from the US Embassy
(Science Office), New Delhi and prepare the proposal in
that format.

(iii)

They may also fill in the ICMR summary sheet for for­
eign projects upto item no. 42.

(iv)

The US collaborator could submit the proposal to the
NIH, USA for processing on their side.

5. For assistance from foreign Foundations: The pre­
scribed format of the concerned Foundation is to be used. If
there is no prescribed format, proposals are to be prepared us­
ing Section B of the ICMR Ad-hoc esearch project application
form.

6. For assistance from WHO: The prescribed form from
SEARO, WHO, New Delhi, is to be used.

The following general information is to be given while
submitting proposals for foreign collaboration/assistance :
(i)

Role/Status/Expertise of the Indian Principal Investigator.

(ii)

Justification for foreign collaboration/fimding.

(ii) Relevance to India’s national health priorities.
(iv)

Consent and biodata of foreign collaborator.

(v)

Availability of infrastructure and manpower in the institu­
tion.

(vi)

Budget formulation including training as well as foreign
exchange component.

Apart from the technical Retails such as rationale for the
studies, objectives, review of literature, material and meth­
ods, techniques to be used, etc. the following additional infor­
mation is required for any Indo-Foreign collaborative project:
(i) Nature of work to be done in Indian laboratory/institution
and foreign collaborator’s laboratory/institution.

(ii) Whether there would be transfer of technology as an out­
come of the project.
(iii)

Whether there would be transfer of human biological ma­
terial from India to the foreign laboratory, or vice-versa

73

and if so the requisite details for the same, such as nature
and quantity of material to be sent abroad; purpose/need of
transfer; nature of investigation to be done utilising the
material; institution(s)/scientist(s) to whom material to be
sent alongwith their addresses; copy of Material Transfer
Agreement; and approval by Institutional Review and Ethi­
cal Committees are to be provided.
With the progress in the cell and molecular biology the fol­
lowing points become very important:

(a)

Safety during transfer - risk of transportation;

(b)

National security - the research should not lead to develop­
ment of biological weapons;

(c)

Risk (relative) from the defence and internal security point
of view of the country;

(d)

Intellectual Property Rights;

(e)

Potential for commercial exploitation, such as by develop­
ment of vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, drugs, etc.

NOTE: Guidelines issued by the Ministry ofHealth and Family Welfare,
Govt, of India, New Delhi, vide O.M. No.L19015/53/97-IH(Pt.)
dated 19th Nov. 1997 are to befollowedfor proposals involving transfer
ofhuman biological materialfor biomedical research purposes. These
guidelines have been reproduced in full in the ICMR Bulletin (Vol. 28
January, 1998). Indian J Prev. Soc. Med (Vol. 29 No. 1 & 2, 1998),
Current Science (Vol. 74 No. 2, pp 179-180,1998), and AIDS Research
& Review (Vol l„ pp 34-37, 1998).

(iv)

Information pertaining to likely visits by Indian and foreign
scientist(s) including duration and purpose of each visit.

(v)

Institutional ethical clearances.

(vi)

Appropriate clearances for research involving human sub­
jects, radio-tagged material (for clinical and/or experimental
purposes), recombinant DNA/genetic engineering work.

(vii)

Mutual agreement on IPR claims.

25 copies of each proposal along with three copies of the
ICMR summary sheet should be sent to the Indo-Foreign Cell
(IFC) of ICMR Hqrs. The proposals can be submitted through­
out the year or six months in advance of the deadline that may
be prescribed by the concerned funding agency, as the case
may be. All items except item nos. 43 to 46 of ICMR sum­
mary sheet should be filled up by the Indian Investigator/
Institutions. The proposals involving ICMR institutes / centres
should be submitted with the recommendations of the Scien­
tific Advisory Committee of the concerned institute/centre.

CONTACT PERSONS AT ICMR
Dr. Ravi Rengachari,
Dy.Director-General (Senior Grade) & Chief

and
. Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Senior Research Officer,
Indo-Foreign Cell,
Indian Council of Medical Research,
Ansari Nagar, P.B. No. 4911, New Delhi - 110 029.
Tele fax 6960492

E.mail-ravir@icmr.de!hi.nic.in
-icmrhqds@sansad.nic.in

This write-up provides general guidelines and should not be considered a call for application for any specific programme.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facilities
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, established a department of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) in 1992.
Over the years the Department has created facilities which include (i) a 1.5 Tesla clinical MRl/MRS scanner, (ii) a 4.7 Tesla Animal MRI/
MRS scanner, and (iii) a vertical bore 9.4 Tesla NMR spectrometer, for carrying out advanced research in different areas of biomedical
NMR in human and animal systems. The Department’s Animal MRI scanner has been identified as a “National Facility”, by the Ministry
of Science and Technology.
Scientists and researchers who are interested in carrying out research using the animal MRI system may contact:

Prof. N.R. Jagannathan
Head, Department of NMR
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
New Delhi-110029*

Tel: 011-6593253/6850533
Fax : 011-6862663 / 6521041

EDITORIAL BOARD
Members

Chairman

Dr. Padam Singh
Dr. Lal it Kant
Dr. Bela Shah
Dr. V. Muthuswamy

Dr. N.K. Ganguly
Director-General

Editor
Dr. N. Medappa

Printed and Published by Shri J.N. Mathur for the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi
at the ICMR Offset Press, New Delhi-110 029
R.N. 21813/71 *
- .

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