Leaving no one behind: using action research to promote male involvement in maternal and child health in Iringa region, Tanzania

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dc.contributor.authorMaluka, Stephen
dc.contributor.authorJaphet, Paul
dc.contributor.authorFitzgerald, Sian
dc.contributor.authorBegum, Khadija
dc.contributor.authorMay, Alexander
dc.contributor.authorKamuzora, Peter
dc.date.accessioned2021-01-31T08:18:55Z
dc.date.available2021-01-31T08:18:55Z
dc.date.issued2020-10-02
dc.description.abstractIntroduction 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.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThe study was funded by a joint initiative of three Canadian government agencies, namely; the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Global Affairs Canada and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) under IMCHA programme grant no: IDRC 108023-001.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/5531
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectMale involvement, Action Research, Tanzaniaen_US
dc.titleLeaving no one behind: using action research to promote male involvement in maternal and child health in Iringa region, Tanzaniaen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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