<strong>Background:</strong> Male involvement in reproductive health care has been shown to have positive outcomes on the maternal and newborn’s health as they provide resources and make crucial decisions...<strong>Background:</strong> Male involvement in reproductive health care has been shown to have positive outcomes on the maternal and newborn’s health as they provide resources and make crucial decisions. However, male involvement in reproductive/maternal health care in Uganda is still low. The objective of this study was to explore community perspectives on benefits and barriers to men’s involvement in maternity care in southwestern Uganda. <strong>Methods:</strong> The study was a cross-sectional, exploratory study, in Ibanda district, southwestern Uganda Data collection was collected in May 2020, using qualitative methods, narrative interviews and analyzed using a content-based approach. The sampling was done purposively and 18 narrative interviews were conducted. <strong>Results:</strong> Eighteen (18) narrative interviews were conducted at households of the participants. The identified benefits of male’s involvement in reproductive care services included family wellbeing and health, health care services utilization, health care worker motivation and community improvement and development. The barriers that emerged included individual and behavioral factors like ignorance/knowledge, responsibility, excessive alcohol consumption, laziness and lack of money. Family and extended family factors included trust and cooperation by the couple, fidelity issues, domestic violence and family perceptions. The environment, cultural and gender factors like misperceptions of male involvement, the cultural beliefs about the role of men in reproductive issues and the gender norms. The health care services factors included timing of the services the attitude of the health workers and the availability and access to the health services. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The benefits of male involvement in maternal health care include family wellbeing and health, health care services utilization, health worker motivation and community improvement and prosperity. The barriers to male involvement in antenatal, delivery and postnatal care include individual and behavioral, family and extended family, environmental, cultural and gender and health care services factors. Therefore interventions to improve male involvement should focus on the individual, family, cultural, gender and health care services factors.展开更多
Introduction: Effective utilization of reproductive and child health (RCH) services is important to reduce morbidity and mortality among mothers as well as children under-five. After International Conference on Popula...Introduction: Effective utilization of reproductive and child health (RCH) services is important to reduce morbidity and mortality among mothers as well as children under-five. After International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), 1994 India has increasingly integrated male participation in women’s reproductive health to improve the women’s health care during pregnancy and child birth. This study examined effect of women’s autonomy and male involvement on RCH services utilization in Uttar Pradesh State of India. Methodology: State level data of Uttar Pradesh from National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), India for currently married women and men aged 15 - 49 years was considered. The study was restricted to couples whose youngest child was born during the three years preceding the survey (N = 2685). Pearson chi-square test was used to determine the association of background characteristics with woman’s autonomy and male involvement in RCH utilization. Logistic regression was used to understand the effects of male involvement and women’s autonomy, using both computed indices after controlling for socio-economic and background characteristics of women and their husbands. Subsequently, the exercise was extended using individual component of both the indices. All findings were reported for 95% CI and p < 0.05. Results: Findings show that except religion, other socio-economic and demographic variables such as age of women, place of residence, number of living children, caste/tribe, women’s work status, education, wealth index, household structure and exposure to mass media, husband’s age, education, and occupation were statistically significant and associated with women’s autonomy and male involvement. Multivariate analysis indicated women’s autonomous decision making and support from their husbands (male involvement) significantly influenced their utilization of RCH services after controlling for all socio-economic and demographic variables. Conclusion: To improve RCH service utilization and overall health status of women and children male involvement and women’s autonomous decision-making should be addressed in all future RCH programs in the State.展开更多
<strong>Introduction</strong><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: Appropriate feeding and consequentl...<strong>Introduction</strong><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: Appropriate feeding and consequently good nutritional status </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of young children largely depends on their caregivers. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Aim</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: The current</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> study aimed at assessing maternal/caregivers’ current knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs regarding different aspects of infant and young child feeding in Eastern and Central Uganda. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methodology</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: A cross-sectional survey design with mixed methods employing both qualitative and quantitative methods was used for data collection. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: The study participants included 556 caregivers and 572 children. Results indicate that most caregivers (77%) were knowledgeable about key infant and young child feeding practices such as breastfeeding, complementary feeding and meal frequency. However, culture </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and economic hardships were</span><span style="color:red;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">a major barrier to the applicability of this</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> knowledge. Nearly all (98%) children were ever breastfed with 41% having been initiated on breast milk in the first hour after birth and 68% of all the children below 6 months exclusively breastfed. Three percent of the children aged 6 - 23 months were classified as having either Moderate (2%) or Severe (1%) Acute malnutrition. The median birth weight was 3.2</span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Kgs with nine percent of the children classified as underweight at birth. The majority (78%) of the children consumed foods from at least four food groups however only </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">44% consumed heme-rich animal flesh food such as meat, poultry, organ</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> meats and fish, 29% consumed milk and milk products while only 11% consumed eggs. The barriers to improved nutritional status and health-seeking</span><span style="color:red;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">behaviour in children from both regions were largely similar. Some of these included cultural practices which prohibit children from eating certain foods and lack of drugs in the health facilities. Lack of male involvement was a key barrier to health-seeking behaviour and the nutritional well-being of children. Males were, however, more knowledgeable about the key childcare practices that are critical to positive outcomes because they listen to radios, have access to social media and usually congregate at bars where this information is disseminated and exchanged. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> There should be continuous sensitization of mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding with special focus on early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding as well as child feeding practices during ill</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ness. To increase protein intake in children 6 - 23 months, interventions </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">aimed at increasing consumption of these vital nutrients such as promotion of nutrition-sensitive agricultural enterprises like rearing of small livestock and chickens should be emphasized. Consumption of these foods is critical, especially during pregnancy and infancy. Finally, male involvement in maternal and child feeding should be encouraged.</span></span></span></span>展开更多
文摘<strong>Background:</strong> Male involvement in reproductive health care has been shown to have positive outcomes on the maternal and newborn’s health as they provide resources and make crucial decisions. However, male involvement in reproductive/maternal health care in Uganda is still low. The objective of this study was to explore community perspectives on benefits and barriers to men’s involvement in maternity care in southwestern Uganda. <strong>Methods:</strong> The study was a cross-sectional, exploratory study, in Ibanda district, southwestern Uganda Data collection was collected in May 2020, using qualitative methods, narrative interviews and analyzed using a content-based approach. The sampling was done purposively and 18 narrative interviews were conducted. <strong>Results:</strong> Eighteen (18) narrative interviews were conducted at households of the participants. The identified benefits of male’s involvement in reproductive care services included family wellbeing and health, health care services utilization, health care worker motivation and community improvement and development. The barriers that emerged included individual and behavioral factors like ignorance/knowledge, responsibility, excessive alcohol consumption, laziness and lack of money. Family and extended family factors included trust and cooperation by the couple, fidelity issues, domestic violence and family perceptions. The environment, cultural and gender factors like misperceptions of male involvement, the cultural beliefs about the role of men in reproductive issues and the gender norms. The health care services factors included timing of the services the attitude of the health workers and the availability and access to the health services. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The benefits of male involvement in maternal health care include family wellbeing and health, health care services utilization, health worker motivation and community improvement and prosperity. The barriers to male involvement in antenatal, delivery and postnatal care include individual and behavioral, family and extended family, environmental, cultural and gender and health care services factors. Therefore interventions to improve male involvement should focus on the individual, family, cultural, gender and health care services factors.
文摘Introduction: Effective utilization of reproductive and child health (RCH) services is important to reduce morbidity and mortality among mothers as well as children under-five. After International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), 1994 India has increasingly integrated male participation in women’s reproductive health to improve the women’s health care during pregnancy and child birth. This study examined effect of women’s autonomy and male involvement on RCH services utilization in Uttar Pradesh State of India. Methodology: State level data of Uttar Pradesh from National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), India for currently married women and men aged 15 - 49 years was considered. The study was restricted to couples whose youngest child was born during the three years preceding the survey (N = 2685). Pearson chi-square test was used to determine the association of background characteristics with woman’s autonomy and male involvement in RCH utilization. Logistic regression was used to understand the effects of male involvement and women’s autonomy, using both computed indices after controlling for socio-economic and background characteristics of women and their husbands. Subsequently, the exercise was extended using individual component of both the indices. All findings were reported for 95% CI and p < 0.05. Results: Findings show that except religion, other socio-economic and demographic variables such as age of women, place of residence, number of living children, caste/tribe, women’s work status, education, wealth index, household structure and exposure to mass media, husband’s age, education, and occupation were statistically significant and associated with women’s autonomy and male involvement. Multivariate analysis indicated women’s autonomous decision making and support from their husbands (male involvement) significantly influenced their utilization of RCH services after controlling for all socio-economic and demographic variables. Conclusion: To improve RCH service utilization and overall health status of women and children male involvement and women’s autonomous decision-making should be addressed in all future RCH programs in the State.
文摘<strong>Introduction</strong><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: Appropriate feeding and consequently good nutritional status </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of young children largely depends on their caregivers. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Aim</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: The current</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> study aimed at assessing maternal/caregivers’ current knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs regarding different aspects of infant and young child feeding in Eastern and Central Uganda. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methodology</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: A cross-sectional survey design with mixed methods employing both qualitative and quantitative methods was used for data collection. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: The study participants included 556 caregivers and 572 children. Results indicate that most caregivers (77%) were knowledgeable about key infant and young child feeding practices such as breastfeeding, complementary feeding and meal frequency. However, culture </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and economic hardships were</span><span style="color:red;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">a major barrier to the applicability of this</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> knowledge. Nearly all (98%) children were ever breastfed with 41% having been initiated on breast milk in the first hour after birth and 68% of all the children below 6 months exclusively breastfed. Three percent of the children aged 6 - 23 months were classified as having either Moderate (2%) or Severe (1%) Acute malnutrition. The median birth weight was 3.2</span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Kgs with nine percent of the children classified as underweight at birth. The majority (78%) of the children consumed foods from at least four food groups however only </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">44% consumed heme-rich animal flesh food such as meat, poultry, organ</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> meats and fish, 29% consumed milk and milk products while only 11% consumed eggs. The barriers to improved nutritional status and health-seeking</span><span style="color:red;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">behaviour in children from both regions were largely similar. Some of these included cultural practices which prohibit children from eating certain foods and lack of drugs in the health facilities. Lack of male involvement was a key barrier to health-seeking behaviour and the nutritional well-being of children. Males were, however, more knowledgeable about the key childcare practices that are critical to positive outcomes because they listen to radios, have access to social media and usually congregate at bars where this information is disseminated and exchanged. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> There should be continuous sensitization of mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding with special focus on early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding as well as child feeding practices during ill</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ness. To increase protein intake in children 6 - 23 months, interventions </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">aimed at increasing consumption of these vital nutrients such as promotion of nutrition-sensitive agricultural enterprises like rearing of small livestock and chickens should be emphasized. Consumption of these foods is critical, especially during pregnancy and infancy. Finally, male involvement in maternal and child feeding should be encouraged.</span></span></span></span>
