See the published version of this article at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
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Research article
Men perspectives on attending antenatal care visits together with their pregnant partners in Misungwi district, rural Tanzania: a qualitative study
Maendeleo Boniphace
Anglia Ruskin University Faculty of Medical Science
Corresponding Author
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Background: Mens’attendance with their pregnant partners at facility-based antenatal care (ANC) visits is important for maternal and child health and gender equality yet remains uncommon in parts of rural Tanzania. This study examined men’s perspectives on attending ANC with their pregnant partners in Misungwi District, Tanzania.
Methods: Twelve individual interviews and five focus group discussions were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires with fathers, expectant fathers, and in-depth interviews were done to health providers, volunteer community health workers, and village leaders. Interviews were recorded and transcribed in Swahili and later translated to English. The research team conducted thematic analysis to identify common themes among interviews.
Results: We identified two broad themes on the barriers to male attendance at facility-based ANC visits: (1) Perceived exclusion during ANC visits among men (2) Traditional gender norms resulting to low attendance among men.
Conclusion: Attendance at health facility for ANC visits by men with their pregnant partners in the study areas were challenged by structural and local cultural norms. At the facility men were uncomfortable to sit with women due to lack of specific waiting area for men and that they perceived to be neglected. Local cultural norms demanded women to have secrecy in pregnancy while men perceived not to have a role of being with their partners during ANC visits.
Keywords
Male attendance, Pregnant partners, Antenatal care, Rural-Tanzania.
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 3
Posted 05 Jan, 2021
Published
On 28 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 06 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
On 28 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 28 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 06 Dec, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 29 Nov, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 18 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 08 Nov, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 05 Nov, 2020
Editor assigned
On 16 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 15 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 15 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 17 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 04 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 01 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 26 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 23 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 01 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 01 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Jun, 2020
Metrics
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PDF Downloads: ...
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Subject Areas
Sexual & Reproductive Medicine
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Men perspectives on attending antenatal care visits together with their pregnant partners in Misungwi district, rural Tanzania: a qualitative study
Maendeleo Boniphace
Anglia Ruskin University Faculty of Medical Science
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 3
Posted 05 Jan, 2021
Published
On 28 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 06 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
On 28 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 28 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 06 Dec, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 29 Nov, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 18 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 08 Nov, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 05 Nov, 2020
Editor assigned
On 16 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 15 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 15 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 17 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 04 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 01 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 26 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 23 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 01 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 01 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Jun, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Sexual & Reproductive Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Background: Mens’attendance with their pregnant partners at facility-based antenatal care (ANC) visits is important for maternal and child health and gender equality yet remains uncommon in parts of rural Tanzania. This study examined men’s perspectives on attending ANC with their pregnant partners in Misungwi District, Tanzania.
Methods: Twelve individual interviews and five focus group discussions were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires with fathers, expectant fathers, and in-depth interviews were done to health providers, volunteer community health workers, and village leaders. Interviews were recorded and transcribed in Swahili and later translated to English. The research team conducted thematic analysis to identify common themes among interviews.
Results: We identified two broad themes on the barriers to male attendance at facility-based ANC visits: (1) Perceived exclusion during ANC visits among men (2) Traditional gender norms resulting to low attendance among men.
Conclusion: Attendance at health facility for ANC visits by men with their pregnant partners in the study areas were challenged by structural and local cultural norms. At the facility men were uncomfortable to sit with women due to lack of specific waiting area for men and that they perceived to be neglected. Local cultural norms demanded women to have secrecy in pregnancy while men perceived not to have a role of being with their partners during ANC visits.