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PORTLAND, Oregon, Sept. 12, 2003 — Los Chidos (the cool ones) have come to Oregon. The entertaining experiences of four soccer buddies are detailed in a vibrantly colored graphic novel in Spanish. PSI's U.S. Programs' project here in Portland has developed Los Chidos to convey reproductive health messages to Spanish-speaking males between the ages of 18-29. A review of the literature confirms that when males are provided with information about reproductive health and contraception they are more likely to be supportive of contraceptive use and to play a role in mutual decision making about pregnancy prevention. "Our research in Oregon, confirmed that women wanted their partners to be more involved and supportive in the decision to use family planning services and birth control," says Allison Mobley, PSI/Portland technical advisor. "Latinas, in particular, wanted written information to give their partners." Throughout the 16 pages, we see that El Conejo accompanies his girlfriend to the clinic to learn how to prevent pregnancy and gets a few ideas about how to be a better partner. Chuy and his partner had a tough time remembering to take the pill every day so they find another method that better suits them. Chaparro, who never quite measures up to the others, has an important condom message at the end. The objectives of the graphic novel are to encourage men to be more involved and supportive of their partners in the decision to use a contraceptive method; to increase men's knowledge of contraceptive methods (including side effects) and reproductive anatomy; and to give tips on how men can get involved in their own reproductive health and support their partner when making and sustaining family planning decisions. Since the majority of Latinos in Oregon are from Mexico, Alexandra Lowell, project manager, worked with a creative team in Mexico - a commercial graphic novel scriptwriter and illustrator - to develop the graphic novel. "We tried to appeal to men's sexual appetite and wove examples into the story of how using a contraceptive method, and therefore being free of the worry of an unintended pregnancy, ultimately leads to more enjoyable, and perhaps, more frequent sex. We wanted to promote the idea that peace of mind comes with family planning," Alex explained. The graphic novels will be handed out to males who come into clinics in Oregon, to female customers to take back to their male partners and at community outreach activities. This project was funded by the Oregon Family Planning Project, a five-year social marketing initiative promoting free or low-cost family planning services to low-income Oregonians.
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