TY - JOUR
T1 - Husbands' experiences and perceptions regarding the use of maternity waiting homes in rural Zambia
AU - Sialubanje, Cephas
AU - Massar, Karlijn
AU - Kirch, Elisa M.
AU - van der Pijl, Marit S. G.
AU - Hamer, Davidson H.
AU - Ruiter, Robert A. C.
PY - 2016/4
Y1 - 2016/4
N2 - Objective: To explore men's experience and beliefs regarding the use of maternity waiting homes (MWHs) in Kalomo District, Zambia. Methods: As part of a qualitative study, in-depth interviews with the husbands/partners of women attending the under-five clinic at a health center with a MWH were conducted between April 1 and May 31,2014. Men aged 18-50 years whose partner/wife was of reproductive age and who had lived in the area for more than 6 months were eligible for inclusion. Results: Overall, 24 husbands/partners were interviewed in seven rural health centers. Men perceived many potential benefits of MWHs, including improved access to facility-based skilled delivery services and treatment in case of labor complications. Their many roles included decision making and securing funds for transport, food, cleaning materials, and clothes for the mother and the neonate to use during and after labor. However, limited financial resources made it difficult for them to provide for their wives and newborns, and usually led to delays in their decisions about MWH use. Poor conditions in MWH5 and the lack of basic social and healthcare needs meant some men had forbidden their wives/partners from using the facilities. Conclusion: Important intervention targets for improving access to MWH5 and skilled birth attendance have been identified.
AB - Objective: To explore men's experience and beliefs regarding the use of maternity waiting homes (MWHs) in Kalomo District, Zambia. Methods: As part of a qualitative study, in-depth interviews with the husbands/partners of women attending the under-five clinic at a health center with a MWH were conducted between April 1 and May 31,2014. Men aged 18-50 years whose partner/wife was of reproductive age and who had lived in the area for more than 6 months were eligible for inclusion. Results: Overall, 24 husbands/partners were interviewed in seven rural health centers. Men perceived many potential benefits of MWHs, including improved access to facility-based skilled delivery services and treatment in case of labor complications. Their many roles included decision making and securing funds for transport, food, cleaning materials, and clothes for the mother and the neonate to use during and after labor. However, limited financial resources made it difficult for them to provide for their wives and newborns, and usually led to delays in their decisions about MWH use. Poor conditions in MWH5 and the lack of basic social and healthcare needs meant some men had forbidden their wives/partners from using the facilities. Conclusion: Important intervention targets for improving access to MWH5 and skilled birth attendance have been identified.
KW - Husbands
KW - Kalomo
KW - Maternal health
KW - Maternity waiting home
KW - Use of healthcare services
KW - Zambia
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2015.08.023
DO - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2015.08.023
M3 - Article
C2 - 26873126
SN - 0020-7292
VL - 133
SP - 108
EP - 111
JO - International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
JF - International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
IS - 1
ER -