Male involvement interventions and improved couples’ emotional relationships in Tanzania and Zimbabwe: ‘When we are walking together, I feel happy’

Comrie-Thomson, Liz; Mavhu, Webster; Makungu, Christina; Nahar, Quamrun; Khan, Rasheda; Davis, Jessica; Stillo, Erica; Hamdani, Saadya; Luchters, Stanley; Vaughan, Cathy

doi:10.1080/13691058.2019.1630564

Cited by 25 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(51 reference statements)

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“…Further research, particularly qualitative research, on the challenges and barriers men face in attending antenatal care in Bungoma County would prove useful for informing future program design. For example, other studies in different locations comment on the ridicule men can face upon their arrival at maternal and child health services [ 35 , 40 ], and also the lack of infrastructure to accommodate men’s presence, such as privacy curtains in clinics [ 41 ]. Additionally, there is opportunity in enhancing utility of the Mother Child Handbook that details pregnancy and neonatal danger signs by targeting communication to men on using the handbook to increase their knowledge on the danger signs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Men’s and women’s knowledge of danger signs relevant to postnatal and neonatal care-seeking: A cross sectional study from Bungoma County, Kenya

et al. 2021

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Background Neonatal and maternal mortality rates remain high in Kenya. Knowledge of neonatal danger signs may reduce delay in deciding to seek care. Evidence is emerging on the influential role of male partners in improving maternal and newborn health. This study analysed the factors that determine men’s and women’s knowledge and practices in postnatal and neonatal care-seeking, in order to inform design of future interventions. Methods A quantitative, cross-sectional study was undertaken in Bungoma County, Kenya. Women who had recently given birth (n = 348) and men whose wives had recently given birth (n = 82) completed questionnaires on knowledge and care-seeking practices relating to the postnatal period. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate associations with key maternal and newborn health outcomes. Results 51.2% of women and 50.0% of men knew at least one neonatal danger sign, however women knew more individual danger signs than men. In the univariate model, women’s knowledge of a least one neonatal danger sign was associated with attending antenatal care ≥4 times (OR 4.46, 95%CI 2.73–7.29, p<0.001), facility birth (OR 3.26, 95%CI 1.89–5.72, p<0.001), and having a male partner accompany them to antenatal care (OR 3.34, 95%CI 1.35–8.27, p = 0.009). Higher monthly household income (≥10,000KSh, approximately US$100) was associated with facility delivery (AOR 11.99, 95%CI 1.59–90.40, p = 0.009). Conclusion Knowledge of neonatal danger signs was low, however there was an association between knowledge of danger signs and increased healthcare service use, including male partner involvement in antenatal care. Future interventions should consider the extra costs of facility delivery and the barriers to men participating in antenatal and postnatal care.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Men’s and women’s knowledge of danger signs relevant to postnatal and neonatal care-seeking: A cross sectional study from Bungoma County, Kenya

et al. 2021

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“…Further, men play a critical role in the overall health of the family as men's understanding of reproductive, maternal, new-born and child health (MNCH) affects women's access to and uptake of RMNCH health services. In many low-and middle-income settings men determine women and children's access to and utilization of health services with significant implications on their health outcomes (5)(6)(7)(8).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This means that men must be encouraged to become active and educated consumers of health services, even those that may not traditionally be of male interest such as RMNCH services (1,2). Participants from Tanzania and Zimbabwe reported that both men and women valued men's involvement in RMNCH, especially pertaining to positive improvements in maternal outcomes, reduced maternal workload, and increased couple communication (6)(7)(8).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male Involvement in Reproductive and Maternal and New Child Health: An Evaluative Qualitative Study on Facilitators and Barriers From Rural Kenya

Lusambili

Muriuki

Wisofschi

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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Male involvement in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) is known to improve maternal and child health outcomes. However, there is sub-optimal adoption of male involvement strategies in several low- and middle-income countries such as Kenya. Aga Khan University implemented Access to Quality of Care through Extending and Strengthening Health Systems (AQCESS), a project funded by the Government of Canada and Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), between 2016 and 2020 in rural Kisii and Kilifi counties, Kenya. A central element in the interventions was increasing male engagement in RMNCH. Between January and March 2020, we conducted an endline qualitative study to examine the perspectives of different community stakeholders, who were aware of the AQCESS project, on the facilitators and barriers to male involvement in RMNCH. We found that targeted information sessions for men on RMNCH are a major facilitator to effective male engagement, particularly when delivered by male authority figures such as church leaders, male champions and teachers. Sub-optimal male engagement arises from tensions men face in directly contributing to the household economy and participating in RMNCH activities. Social-cultural factors such as the feminization of RMNCH and the associated stigma that non-conforming men experience also discourage male engagement.

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“…As stated at the onset of the paper, global health research has demonstrated that active male participation in maternal healthcare services improves women's health outcomes and promotes gender equality in reproductive health (14,15,50). Some literature from sub-Saharan Africa indicates that male partners attending ANC facilitate quality care for women through demanding respectful care and acting as patient advocates at health facilities (20)(21)(22).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I came to escort someone”: Men’s experiences of antenatal care services in Urban Ghana. A qualitative study

Ampim

Blystad

Kpoor

et al. 2020

Preprint

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BackgroundMale involvement in maternal healthcare has been widely recognized as important for positive health outcomes for expectant mothers and their unborn babies, but few studies have explored men’s experiences of maternal health services. The purpose of this paper is to explore men’s involvement in antenatal care in urban Ghana and to discuss how men navigate their roles in a space that has been constructed as feminine. The study draws upon theories of gender, place and space.MethodsA qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and observation was conducted in Accra, Ghana. Expectant fathers and health workers were interviewed and observation was conducted at a selected public hospital in Accra. ResultsThe findings suggest that the few men who attend antenatal care with their expecting partners get involved to a limited extent in activities at the clinic. Beyond a few who take an active role, most men stay on the outskirts of the hospital grounds, and rarely participate in the consultation with their partner and nurse-midwife. Men still view their presence as important, both to acquire knowledge, and as a source of emotional, financial and physical support for their partners. On the health workers’ side, the study found that there was no clear agenda for engaging men at the clinic, and nurses / midwives felt the lack of staff who could engage more directly with the men. ConclusionThe study indicates that most expecting fathers feel too shy and uncomfortable to locate themselves in the female space that makes up antenatal care / maternity wards. Health workers do not feel they have the necessary resources to involve men in a fruitful way. Thus, men do not engage in the activity as hoped but remain on the outskirts of the maternity clinic. However, if men continue to negotiate their involvement at the clinic and become more assertive in their roles, the maternity clinic as a female space could, with time, be transformed into a space where both expecting mothers and fathers can be active and engaged to the benefit of all.

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Male involvement interventions and improved couples’ emotional relationships in Tanzania and Zimbabwe: ‘When we are walking together, I feel happy’

Abstract: View related articlesView Crossmark data Citing articles: 2 View citing articlesMale involvement interventions and improved couples' emotional relationships in Tanzania and Zimbabwe: 'When we are walking together, I feel happy'

Cited by 25 publications

References 32 publications

Men’s and women’s knowledge of danger signs relevant to postnatal and neonatal care-seeking: A cross sectional study from Bungoma County, Kenya

Men’s and women’s knowledge of danger signs relevant to postnatal and neonatal care-seeking: A cross sectional study from Bungoma County, Kenya

Male Involvement in Reproductive and Maternal and New Child Health: An Evaluative Qualitative Study on Facilitators and Barriers From Rural Kenya

“I came to escort someone”: Men’s experiences of antenatal care services in Urban Ghana. A qualitative study

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