Matseke Motlagabo G, Ruiter Robert A C, Barylski Nicole, Rodriguez Violeta J, Jones Deborah L, Weiss Stephen M, Peltzer Karl, Setswe Geoffrey, Sifunda Sibusiso
Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa, and Maastricht University.
Maastricht University.
J Soc Behav Health Sci. 2017;11.
Male partner involvement (MPI) during antenatal care has been promoted as an effective intervention to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes. Although MPI is commonly defined as men attending antenatal clinic visits with their female partner, few men attend antenatal clinic visits in rural communities in the province of Mpumalanga, South Africa. The study aimed to qualitatively explore the meaning and understanding of MPI as perceived by men visiting primary health care clinics in rural communities in Mpumalanga. Six focus groups discussions ( = 53) were conducted, digitally recorded, simultaneously transcribed, and translated verbatim into English. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Perceptions of male roles during and after pregnancy differed among men. Male involvement was understood as giving instrumental support to female partners through financial help, helping out with physical tasks, and providing emotional support. Accompanying female partners to the clinic was also viewed as partner support, including behaviors such as holding a spot for her in the clinic queues. Community attitudes, traditional beliefs, and negative experiences in health facilities were barriers for MPI. This study provides support for concerted efforts to work with both men and women within the cultural context to explore the important roles of all members of the family in working together to provide the best possible health outcomes for mother and infant. In particular, future interventions should focus on making antenatal care services more responsive to male partners, and improving male partner accessibility in health care facilities.
男性伴侣参与产前护理（MPI）已被视为一种有效的干预措施，以改善孕产妇和新生儿的健康状况。尽管MPI通常被定义为男性陪同其女性伴侣前往产前诊所就诊，但在南非姆普马兰加省的农村社区，很少有男性前往产前诊所就诊。该研究旨在定性探索姆普马兰加省农村社区初级卫生保健诊所男性对MPI的理解和认知。进行了六次焦点小组讨论（n = 53），进行数字录音、同步转录，并逐字翻译成英语。使用主题内容分析法对数据进行分析。男性对孕期及产后男性角色的认知各不相同。男性参与被理解为通过经济援助为女性伴侣提供物质支持、帮忙做体力活以及提供情感支持。陪女性伴侣去诊所也被视为伴侣支持，包括在诊所排队时为她占位置等行为。社区态度、传统观念以及在医疗机构的负面经历是MPI的障碍。本研究为在文化背景下与男性和女性共同努力以探索家庭所有成员在共同努力为母婴提供最佳健康结果方面的重要作用提供了支持。特别是，未来的干预措施应侧重于使产前护理服务对男性伴侣更具响应性，并提高男性伴侣在医疗机构的可及性。
