Perceptions of, attitudes towards and barriers to male involvement in newborn care in rural Ghana, West Africa: A qualitative analysis

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Volumn 14, Issue 1, 2014, Pages

  Dumbaugh, Mari ^a   Tawiah Agyemang, Charlotte ^b   Manu, Alexander ^b   ten Asbroek, Guus H A ^c   Kirkwood, Betty ^c   Hill, Zelee ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON   (United Kingdom)

^b KINTAMPO HEALTH RESEARCH CENTRE   (Ghana)

^c LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Birth preparedness; Care seeking; Gender; Ghana; Household roles; Male involvement; Mother in law; Newborn care; Newborn health

Indexed keywords

ADULT; ARTICLE; CHILD HEALTH; CHILD PARENT RELATION; FATHER; FEMALE; GHANA; HOUSEHOLD; HUMAN; HUMAN EXPERIMENT; INTERVIEW; MALE; MALE INVOLVEMENT; MATERNAL WELFARE; MOTHER; NEWBORN CARE; NORMAL HUMAN; PARENTAL ATTITUDE; POLITICS; QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS; RESPONSIBILITY; RURAL AREA; SECONDARY ANALYSIS; SEX DIFFERENCE; ADOLESCENT; CHILD CARE; CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY; DECISION MAKING; FAMILY SIZE; GENDER IDENTITY; HUMAN RELATION; MIDDLE AGED; NEWBORN; PERCEPTION; QUALITATIVE RESEARCH; ROLE PLAYING; YOUNG ADULT;

ADOLESCENT; ADULT; CULTURE; DECISION MAKING; FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS; FATHERS; FEMALE; GENDER IDENTITY; GHANA; HUMANS; INFANT CARE; INFANT, NEWBORN; INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONS; MALE; MIDDLE AGED; MOTHERS; PERCEPTION; QUALITATIVE RESEARCH; ROLE; YOUNG ADULT;

EID: 84910070533     PISSN: None     EISSN: 14712393     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2393-14-269     Document Type: Article

References (38)

1. Seward N, Osrin D, Li L, Costello A, Pulkki-Brännström AM, Houweling TA, Morrison J, Nair N, Tripathy P, Azad K, Manandhar D, Prost A. Association between clean delivery kit use, clean delivery practices, and neonatal survival: pooled analysis of data from three sites in South Asia. PLoS Med 2007, 9(2):e1001180.
2. Barker G, Ricardo C, Nascimento M, Olukoya A, Santos C. Questioning gender norms with men to improve health outcomes: evidence of impact. Glob Pub Health 2010, 5(5):539-553.
3. Kululanga L, Sundby J, Malata A, Chirwa E. Striving to promote male involvement in maternal health care in rural and urban settings in Malawi - a qualitative study. Reprod Health 2011, 8(36). Accessed on 5/20/2012: http://www.reproductive-health-journal.com/content/8/1/36.
4. Kumar V, Kumar A, Das V, Srivastava NM, Baqui AH, Santosham M, Darmstadt GL. Community-driven impact of a newborn-focused behavioral intervention on maternal health in Shivgarh, India. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2012, 117:48-55.
5. Mutyaba T, Mirembe F, Sandin S, Weiderpass E. Male partner involvement in reducing loss to follow-up after cervical cancer. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2009, 107:103-106.
6. Rogers-Streiber C. Involving husbands in safe motherhood: effects of the SUANI SIAGA campaign in Indonesia. J Health Commun 2004, 9:233-258.
7. Theuring S, Mbezi P, Luvanda H, Jordan-Harder B, Kunz A, Harms G. Male involvement in PMTCT services in Mbeya Region, Tanzania. AIDS Behav 2009, 13:92-102.
8. Turan Mozzan J, Nalbant H, Bulut A, Sahip Y. Including expectant fathers in antenatal education programmes in Istanbul. Reprod Health Matters 2001, 9:114-125.
9. Venables E, Stadler J. 'The study has taught me to be supportive of her': empowering women and involving men in microbicide research. Cult Health Sex 2011, 14:181-194.
10. Msuya Penderson SE, Mbizvo EM, Hussain A, Uriyo J, Sam NE, Stray-Pedersen B. Low male partner participation in antenatal HIV counseling and testing in northern Tanzania: implications for preventive programs. AIDS Care 2008, 20(6):700-709.
11. Farquhar C, Kiarie JN, Richardson BA, Kabura MN, John FN, Nduati RW, Mbori-Ngacha D, John-Stewart GC. Antenatal couple counseling increases uptake of interventions to prevent HIV-1 transmission. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 1999, 37(5):1620.
12. Adeleye O, Aldoory L, Parakoyi D. Using local culture and gender roles to improve male involvement in maternal health in Southern Nigeria. J Health Commun 2011, 16:1122-1135.
13. Mufune P. The male involvement programme and men's sexual and reproductive health in Northern Namibia. Curr Soc 2009, 57(2):231-248.
14. Mushi D, Mpembeni R, Jahn A. Effectiveness of community based safe motherhood promoters in improving the utilization of obstetric care: the case of Mtwara Rural District in Tanzania. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2010, 10(1):14.
15. Reece M, Hollub A, Nangami M, Lane K. Assessing male spousal engagement with prevention of mother-to-child (pMTCT) programs in western Kenya. AIDS Care 2010, 22:743-750.
16. Medley A, Mugerwa G, Kennedy C, Sweat M. Ugandan men's attitudes toward their partner's participation in antenatal HIV testing. Health Care Women Int 2012, 33:359-374.
17. Harrington E, Dworkin S, Kwena Z, Onono M, Grossman D, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Newmann SJ. Male involvement in family planning: perspectives among HIV-affected couples in Nyanza Province. Kenya Contraception 2011, 84:302-336.
18. Onyango MA, Owoko S, Oguttu M. Factors that influence male involvement in sexual and reproductive health in Western Kenya: A Qualitative study. African J Reprod Health 2011, 14(4):33-44.
19. Iliyasu Z, Abubakar I, Galadanci HS, Aliyu MH. Birth preparedness, complication readiness, and fathers' participation in maternity care in a Northern Nigerian community. African J Reprod Health 2010, 14(1):21-32.
20. Adeleye O, Chiwuzie J. " He does his own and walks away" : perceptions about male attitudes and practices regarding safe motherhood in Ekiadolor, Southern Nigeria. African J Reprod Health 2007, 11(1):76-89.
21. Odimegwu C, Adewuyi A, Odebiyi T, Aina B, Adesina Y, Olatubara O, Eniola F. Men's role in emergency obstetric care in Osun State of Nigeria. African J Reprod Health 2005, 9:59-71.
22. Kakaire O, Kaye D, Osinde M. Male involvement in birth preparedness and complication readiness for emergency obstetric referrals in rural Uganda. Reprod Health 2011, 8(12):1-7.
23. Tweheyo R, Konde-Lule J, Tumwesigye N, Sekandi J. Male partner attendance of skilled Antenatal care in peri-urban Gulu district. Northern Uganda Pregnancy Childbirth 2010, 10:53.
24. Waiswa P, Kemigisa M, Kiguli J, Baikoba S, Pariyo G, Peterson S. Acceptability of evidence-based neonatal care practices in rural Uganda - implications for programming. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2008, 8:21. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-8-21.
25. Waiswa P, Nyanzi S, Namusoko-Kalungi S, Peterson S, Tomson G, Pariyo G. 'I never thought that this baby would survive; I thought that it would die any time': perceptions and care for preterm babies in eastern Uganda. Trop Med Int Health 2010, 15(10):1140-1147.
26. Hill Z, Manu A, Tawiah-Agyemang C, Gyan T, Turner K, Weobong B, Ten Asbroek AHA, Kirkwood BR. How did formative research inform the development of a home-based neonatal care intervention in rural Ghana?. J Perinat 2008, 28:38-45.
27. Kirkwood B, Manu A, Tawiah-Agyemang C, Asbroek G, Gyan T, Weobong B, Lewandowski RE, Soremekum S, Danso S, Pitt C, Hanson K, Owusu-Agyei S, Hill Z. NEWHINTS cluster randomised trial to evaluate the impact on neonatal mortality in rural Ghana of routine home visits to provide a package of essential newborn care interventions in the third trimester of pregnancy and the first week of life: trial protocol. Trials 2010, 11(58):1-11.
28. Kirkwood BR, Manu A, Asbroek AH, Soremeum S, Weobong B, Gyan T, Danso S, Amenga-Etego S, Tawiah-Agyemang C, Owusu-Agyei S, Hill Z. Effecft of the Newhints home-visits intervention on neonatal mortality rate and care practices in Ghana: a cluster randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736 (13) 60095-1. Accessed 6/1/13.
29. Bazzano A, Kirkwood B, Tawiah-Agyemang C, Owusu-Agyi S, Adongo BP. Beyond symptom recognition: care-seeking for ill newborns in rural Ghan 2008a. Trop Med Int Health 2008, 13(1):123-128.
30. Carter M. Husbands and maternal health matters in rural Guatemala: wives' reports on their spouses' involvement in pregnancy and birth. Soc Sci Med 2002, 55:437-450.
31. Montgomery CM, Hosegood V, Busza J, Timaeus IM. Men's involvement in the South African family: engendering change in the AIDS era. Soc Sci Med 2006, 62:2411-2419.
32. Aubel J. The role and influence of grandmothers on child nutrition: culturally designated advisors and caregivers. Mat Child Nut 2012, 8:19-35.
33. Connell RW, Messerschmidt J. Hegemonic masculinity: rethinking the concept. Gend Soc 2005, 19(6):829-859.
34. Raju R. Negotiating with patriarchy: addressing men in reproductive and child health. Econ Pol Weekly 2001, 36:4589-4592.
35. Avogo W. Men's social networks and contraception in Ghana. J Bio Sci 2008, 40(3):413-429.
36. Helzner JF. Men's involvement in family planning. Reprod Health Matters 1996, 4(7):146-154.
37. Cornwall A. Men, masculinity, and 'gender in development'. Gender Dev 1997, 5:8-13.
38. Mullany B, Hindin M, Becker S. Can women's autonomy impede male involvement in pregnancy health in Katmandu, Nepal?. Soc Sci Med 2005, 61:1993-2006.