Male Involvement in Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health Services: A Qualitative Study in Dhading District of Nepal

Authors

  • Bimal Singh Bist Department Health, Graduate School of Education, Tribhuvan University
  • Lokendra B. Sherchan Department of Health, Graduate School of Education, Tribhuvan University
  • Sonu Basnet Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University
  • Subash Neupane Institute of Crisis Management Studies, Tribhuvan University
  • Sampurna Kakchapati Nobel College, Pokhara University
  • Andrzej Kurpiel Nurture Nepal, UK

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/sijssr.v3i1.46022

Keywords:

Male Involvement, Maternal and Child Health, Antenatal Visit, Postnatal Visit, Qualitative Research

Abstract

This study attempts to explore the involvement of fathers of children under two years of age in Maternal and Child health care in the Dhading district of Nepal. Four focus groups discussions with 38 fathers were conducted. Six major themes emerged from the analysis as follows: Access to health facility; knowledge on ANC and PNC visits; helping the pregnant and lactating mother; family decision-making; male parent's preference of health facility and the male's suggestions on how to improve the health care system for MCH care. The results revealed that priority was given to faith healers for health services; male parents were less aware of the importance of ANC and PNC visits and that social stigma negatively impacts the help given to the pregnant and lactating mother. Most of the participants were helpful and supportive of their wives during pregnancy and lactating. The mistrust created by the unavailability of health workers in the health facility, long distances to the health facility with roads inaccessible to ambulances and a lack of human resources in the village were all reasons for home delivery. Involvement of the male in health care activities and providing them with health education opens a window of opportunity to help achieve Maternal and Child health-related goals.

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Author Biographies

Bimal Singh Bist, Department Health, Graduate School of Education, Tribhuvan University

 

 

Lokendra B. Sherchan, Department of Health, Graduate School of Education, Tribhuvan University

 

 

Sonu Basnet, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University

 

 

Subash Neupane, Institute of Crisis Management Studies, Tribhuvan University

 

 

Sampurna Kakchapati, Nobel College, Pokhara University

 

 

Andrzej Kurpiel, Nurture Nepal, UK

 

 

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Published

2021-04-30

How to Cite

Bist, B. S., Sherchan, L. B., Basnet, S., Neupane, S., Kakchapati, S., & Kurpiel, A. (2021). Male Involvement in Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health Services: A Qualitative Study in Dhading District of Nepal. Social Inquiry: Journal of Social Science Research, 3(1), 41–57. https://doi.org/10.3126/sijssr.v3i1.46022

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Section

Original Articles