Browsing by Author "Japhet, Paul"

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    Effects of Male Engagement Interventions on Women’s Autonomy in Decision Making in Iringa Region, Tanzania
    (Tanzania Journal of Development Studies, 2021) Japhet, Paul; Maluka, Stephen O
    Maternal and neonatal mortality are largely caused by delays in attending to obstetric complications and this is attributed to limited women’s power in making decisions regarding household resources and utilisation of health care services. This requires effective implementation of male engagement interventions to improve women’s autonomy in making decisions and hence reduce delays in attending to obstetric complications. This study examines the contribution of male engagement interventions in promoting women’s autonomy in decision making within households and society. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic and household characteristics, women’s practices concerning prenatal care, childbirth, postnatal care, and related decision-making power. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis were used to analyse the data. The findings show a significant difference in decision making autonomy regarding family planning methods among respondents who had received male engagement education versus those who had not received such education (p-0.001<1%). Again, there was significant participation of women in household purchases for daily needs (p-0.057<10%) and in decisions to work out of homes (p-0.015<5%). This trend was noted among respondents who had received male engagement education as compared to those who had not received such education. There was also greater engagement of women in decision making concerning major household purchases and their health care, although their engagement was not statistically significant (p- 0.397>10% and p-0.293>10% respectively). Effective implementation of male engagement interventions may leverage men’s power within households and promote women’s autonomy in decision making, thereby improving healthcare- seeking behaviour.
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    Leaving no one behind: using action research to promote male involvement in maternal and child health in Iringa region, Tanzania
    (2020-10-02) Maluka, Stephen; Japhet, Paul; Fitzgerald, Sian; Begum, Khadija; May, Alexander; Kamuzora, Peter
    Introduction Male involvement has been reported to improve maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes. However, most studies in low-income and middle-income countries have reported low participation of men in MCH-related programmes. While there is a growing interest in the involvement of men in MCH, little is known on how male involvement can be effectively promoted in settings where entrenched unequal gender roles, norms and relations constrain women from effectively inviting men to participate in MCH. Methods and analysis This paper reports participatory action research (PAR) aimed to promote male participation in pregnancy and childbirth in Iringa Region, Tanzania. As part of the Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa project, PAR was conducted in 20 villages in two rural districts in Tanzania. Men and women were engaged separately to identify barriers to male involvement in antenatal care and during delivery; and then they were facilitated to design strategies to promote male participation in their communities. Along with the PAR intervention, researchers undertook a series of research activities. A thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The common strategies designed were: engaging health facility committees; using male champions and male gatekeepers; and using female champions to sensitise and provide health education to women. These strategies were validated during stakeholders’ meetings, which were convened in each community. Discussion The use of participatory approach not only empowers communities to diagnose barriers to male involvement and develop culturally acceptable strategies but also increases sustainability of the interventions beyond the life span of the project. More lessons will be identified during the implementation of these strategies.