Qualitative Study on the Role of Men in Maternal Health in Resource-Limited Communities in Western Kenya
Open/View files
Date
June 20, 2018
Author(s)
Brubaker, Kathryn Ann
The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you.
Citation
Brubaker, Kathryn Ann. 2017. Qualitative Study on the Role of Men in Maternal Health in Resource-Limited Communities in Western Kenya. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard Medical School.
Abstract
Purpose: To better understand the beliefs of men and women in western Kenya regarding the appropriate role of men in maternal health and to identify barriers to greater involvement.
Methods: Between June 1 and July 31, 2014, a cross-sectional qualitative study enrolled lay men, lay women, and community health workers from Kisumu and Nyamira counties in western Kenya. Semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted and qualitative approaches were utilized to analyze the transcripts and identify common themes.
Results: In total, 134 individuals participated in 18 focus group discussions. Participants discussed the role of men and a general consensus was recorded that it was a man's duty to protect women during pregnancy. When discussing obstacles to male involvement, female participants highlighted gender dynamics and male participants raised financial limitations.
Conclusion: There was considerable discrepancy between how men described their roles and how they actually behaved, although educated men appeared to describe themselves as performing more supportive behaviors compared with male participants with less education. It is suggested that interventions aimed at increasing male involvement should incorporate existing culturally sanctioned roles men perform as a foundation upon which to build, rather than attempting to construct roles that oppose prevailing norms.
Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material (LAA), as set forth at Terms of Service
Collection