Strategies for promoting male partner involvement in maternal, newborn and child health care in Kiambu County

Abstract

Introduction: the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) recommended that men should share responsibility and be actively involved in sexual and reproductive health. The level of male partner involvement in Kenya remains low despite growing evidence showing its benefits in maternal and newborn health. This study sought to explore strategies for encouraging male partners to accompany their spouses to Maternal and Child Health (MCH) department.

Methods: a qualitative exploratory study was used to gather the views of nurse-midwives and invited men on mechanisms to encourage men to accompany their spouses to MCH clinic. Three and two focused group discussions (FGDs) composed of six to eight participants from nurse-midwives and men were conducted respectively. The FGDs were audio recorded and lasted 60-90 minutes. Content analysis was used to generate themes using MAXQDA 2022 software.

Results: seven categories emerged as strategies that can encourage male partner participation in the Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) services: creating community awareness and sensitization, engaging men in the MCH department, reducing waiting time, provision of health services that address male health needs, inviting male partners to the MCH clinic, encouraging MCH staff to be receptive to couples and re-scheduling of MCH working days as well as extension of hours.

Conclusion: evidence-based strategies that adopts multi-level interventions with greater focus on community sensitization and re-organization of the MCH services are important in encouraging men accompany their spouses to clinic and actively participate in the MNCH.