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The Role of Husbands in Maternal Health and Safe Childbirth in Rural

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The Role of Husbands in Maternal Health and Safe Childbirth in Rural Lewis et al. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2015) 15:162 DOI 10.1186/s12884-015-0599-8 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Theroleofhusbandsinmaternalhealthand safe childbirth in rural Nepal: a qualitative study Sarah Lewis1*, Andrew Lee2 and Padam Simkhada2 Abstract Background: The role of husbands in maternal health is often overlooked by health programmes in developing countries and is an under-researched area of study globally. This study examines the role of husbands in maternity care and safe childbirth, their perceptions of the needs of women and children, the factors which influence or discourage their participation, and how women feel about male involvement around childbirth. It also identifies considerations that should be taken into account in the development of health education for husbands. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in four rural hill villages in the Gorkha district of Nepal. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with husbands (n = 17), wives (n = 15), mothers-in-law (n = 3), and health workers (n = 7) in Nepali through a translator. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using axial coding. Results: We found that, in rural Nepal, male involvement in maternal health and safe childbirth is complex and related to gradual and evolving changes in attitudes taking place. Traditional beliefs are upheld which influence male involvement, including the central role of women in the domain of pregnancy and childbirth that cannot be ignored. That said, husbands do have a role to play in maternity care. For example, they may be the only person available when a woman goes into labour. Considerable interest for the involvement of husbands was also expressed by both expectant mothers and fathers. However, it is important to recognise that the husbands’ role is shaped by many factors, including their availability, cultural beliefs, and traditions. Conclusions: This study shows that, although complex, expectant fathers do have an important role in maternal health and safe childbirth. Male involvement needs to be recognised and addressed in health education due to the potential benefits it may bring to both maternal and child health outcomes. This has important implications for health policy and practice, as there is a need for health systems and maternal health interventions to adapt in order to ensure the appropriate and effective inclusion of expectant fathers. Background been frustrating for husbands and has prevented their in- Men’s roles in safeguarding maternal health have gained volvement [2]. This lack of knowledge undoubtedly affects increased interest in recent years [1, 2]. Men can affect maternal health outcomes. For example, Brunson’s(2010) pregnancy and childbirth through responding to compli- study shows that despite the fact they may not be cations, seeking medical help, paying for transport, and knowledgeable about birth, in emergencies men control allocating household resources [3, 4]. However, the role the situation through their decision making [8]. of husbands in maternal health is often overlooked and Although traditionally a women’s role, studies have neglected. shown increasing desire of women for their husbands’ In South Asian contexts, research has found that men involvement, including during labour [8–10]. Mumtaz possess little knowledge and experience regarding mater- and Salway (2009) suggest that there is a need to move nal health [5–7]. A lack of knowledge regarding complica- away from seeing men as “oppressors” and instead tions and danger signs during pregnancy and delivery has recognise them as partners in this realm [11]. Yet overall men’s involvement in maternal health is not well under- * Correspondence: [email protected] stood and has been little researched compared to other 1Department of Geography and Section of Public Health, School of Health areas of sexual and reproductive health [6, 12, 13]. and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © 2015 Lewis et al. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. Lewis et al. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2015) 15:162 Page 2 of 10 Since the 1994 Cairo International Conference on child’s needs. We also wanted to understand how women Population and Development (ICPD), which recognised feel about male involvement in maternity care and identify that working with men is needed for effective change, considerations that should be taken into account in the male involvement in reproductive health issues has been development of health education for husbands. well documented [14]. The effects of men and the socio- cultural construction of masculinities on women’s repro- Methods ductive health outcomes are also recognised [11]. Of Setting research and interventions that have incorporated men The research took place in four villages in the Gorkha these have been in the areas of family planning, HIV, district, located in the Western region of Nepal. This rural and sexually transmitted diseases. area is extremely remote, with limited infrastructure in- The effect of male involvement on the health of the cluding roads, communications, transport and equipped newborn has also been recognised. In Alio et al’s (2010) health facilities. The health facilities available are limited study of feto-infant health they acknowledge that pater- and varied in each village, with only one possessing a nal behaviours in the maternal period can have long- birthing centre, which is a three hour walk from most lasting effects on the child’s health [15]. villages researched. Female Community Health Volunteers Nepal has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios are present in each village. in Asia, at 281 deaths per 100,000 live births [16, 17]. The 2011 Census shows that the Gorkha district has a Multiple risk factors have been identified including the population of 271,061 [28]. The predominant religions absence of skilled care at birth, delayed health-seeking followed are Hinduism (203,702 people), Buddhism and lack of access to health facilities [18]. These risk fac- (51,766) and Christianity (8,860). The main caste/eth- tors are prominent in rural areas and particularly rele- nicity is Gurung (53,342), followed by Brahman – Hill vant for Nepal as 90 % of the population resides in rural (41,229), and Chhetree (31,479), among others [29]. areas and nationally only a third of deliveries occur in health facilities [19, 20]. The majority of births occur at Study design, participants and sampling procedure home and many women deliver with relatives, friends, This study used a qualitative approach involving semi- untrained traditional birth attendants, or even alone, structured, in-depth interviews with local people and with its attendant risks [3, 21–23]. health workers to explore feelings, understandings, and Currently, pregnancy and childbirth in Nepal are seen perceptions of male involvement. very much as a woman’s health issue [8]. It is traditional Basic interview schedules were devised prior to re- practice for the daughter-in-law to reside with the search (see Additional file 1 for the original interview husband’s family after marriage and for decisions about schedule). A local non-governmental organisation work- maternal health care to be made by the mother-in-law [3, ing in the area, PHASE Nepal, was consulted to ensure 24, 25]. It is also the practice for women to be assisted that the questions were suitable for the context. The with members of the same sex during labour [26]. Conse- interview schedule was also pre-tested with a Nepali quently, maternal health programme interventions have translator for clarity. looked at addressing issues of poor nutrition, lack of Data collection took place in 2012. Interviews were awareness, and health seeking behaviour predominantly conducted in Nepali through a translator. Respondents through this gender lens. were invited to participate if they met the following in- However, given that many births in Nepal take place at clusion criteria: they were a father, a mother, a mother- home there is a need to look at care at the household in-law, a Female Community Health Volunteer or health level. In particular, as men’s knowledge and attitudes to worker employed by the Government or PHASE Nepal. health are significant factors influencing women’s mater- A sample size of 20 respondents was originally planned, nal health [24], there is an urgent need to understand although it was recognised that this number could in- male perceptions of their role in maternal health and crease or decrease depending on theoretical saturation that husbands are educated and enabled to make timely (when new data does not give new insights but instead decisions [7, 27]. More research is imperative into the confirms previous theories) [30]. types of care men may provide during pregnancy and Respondents were identified and approached either childbirth [12]. through snowball sampling by previous participants, or This study explores the role of expectant fathers and as- door-to-door by the researchers. Potential respondents sesses their need for
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