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.
