Men’s sexual and reproductive health may be awkward to talk about, but there’s a need to do so. For example, about one-sixth of all couples worldwide have difficulty conceiving children, and in half the cases the man’s fertility is part of the problem. In South Africa, nearly 65% of men attending primary healthcare facilities report some level of erectile dysfunction, as do 57.4% of men in Nigeria.
Not only is there a cultural stigma around these issues, there aren’t always enough healthcare professionals and services to help. Consequently, traditional medicine is not just an alternative to “western medicine”, it’s at the frontline in African countries rooted in ancient knowledge. It’s also sustained by necessity.
However, this knowledge is at risk as societies and cultures change.
