The Male Motivators approach was developed by Save the Children and first used in Malawi with men and adolescent girls in cross-generational marriages. The approach engages men to break down gender norms, leading to improved male-initiated couples communication about family planning. The approach identifies men who use modern contraception and trains them to be 'male motivators'. Over the course of eight months, male motivators visit other men in the community an average of five times to discuss the socio-economic benefits of birth spacing, provide information on contraceptive methods, practice skills to discuss fertility desires and birth spacing with wives, explore perceptions of men who use family planning, and identify local resources to access family planning. Results of the intervention found that contraceptive use increased significantly as well as general family planning communication and communication frequency.
