Lines of male care geared to sexual health, reproduction and paternity.

The article seeks to propose principles for male care geared to sexual health, reproduction and paternity, as well as present a blueprint for the involvement of men in prenatal care. The proposal of the authors was submitted to a consensus building process with invited experts. The main results presented include: (a) the principles of lines of male care geared to sexual health, reproduction and paternity; and (b) a blueprint for the involvement of men in prenatal care. The conclusion drawn is that the cultural preconceptions of how males should lead their lives, including their social relations and roles as fathers interfere in health care actions and touch on three main points: (a) the idea of man as a collaborator in the promotion of the health of his partner while pregnant and/or his offspring; (b) the idea of paternity being strongly linked to being the financial provider; (c) the hiatus generated between the traditional concept of paternity and the new family and gender patterns.