Galle Anna, Maguele Maria S B, Maxlhusa Elisio, Aguacheiro David, Krüger Tina, de Melo Málica
International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
International Centre for Reproductive Health Mozambique (ICRHM), 1100 Maputo, Mozambique.
Int Health. 2025 Sep 3;17(5):778-789. doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihaf027.
Men in low- and middle-income countries often play a critical role in maternal health by increasing access to and utilization of maternal health services. This photovoice study examined the experiences of men and women with scheduled couple consultations during pregnancy, supported by social mobilization activities, as a lever to increase male involvement during pregnancy and childbirth.
The lived experiences with scheduled couple consultations were evaluated by collecting photovoice data from couples, conducting focus group discussions with health providers and in-depth interviews with women. Analysis was done by applying a thematic inductive approach.
Data were collected from five couples using photovoice, nine health providers by conducting focus group discussions and nine single women by conducting individual in-depth interviews. Two overall themes arose during analysis of the data: health center experiences and community norms about pregnancy. Overall, the couple consultations had a positive effect on the interest of the male partner in pregnancy and childbirth, but deep-rooted gender norms around women's roles during pregnancy persisted.
Implementing scheduled couple consultations at health center level, supported by social mobilization activities, is a promising strategy for stimulating active participation of male partners in maternal health.
在低收入和中等收入国家，男性往往通过增加孕产妇保健服务的可及性和利用率，在孕产妇保健中发挥关键作用。这项摄影声音研究考察了在社会动员活动支持下，夫妻在孕期进行定期咨询的经历，以此作为增加男性在孕期和分娩期间参与度的一个手段。
通过收集夫妻的摄影声音数据、与医疗服务提供者进行焦点小组讨论以及对女性进行深入访谈，来评估定期夫妻咨询的实际经历。采用主题归纳法进行分析。
通过摄影声音收集了五对夫妻的数据，通过焦点小组讨论收集了九名医疗服务提供者的数据，通过个人深入访谈收集了九名单身女性的数据。数据分析过程中出现了两个总体主题：健康中心的经历以及关于怀孕的社区规范。总体而言，夫妻咨询对男性伴侣参与怀孕和分娩的积极性产生了积极影响，但围绕女性孕期角色的根深蒂固的性别规范依然存在。
在社会动员活动的支持下，在健康中心层面开展定期夫妻咨询，是促进男性伴侣积极参与孕产妇保健的一项有前景的策略。
