“My Husband Is a ‘Mama’s Boy’”: Women’s Views on Male Engagement in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in Western Kenya

Robsan Tura (), Nema C. M. Aluku, Sato Ashida and William T. Story
Additional contact information
Robsan Tura: Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, USA
Nema C. M. Aluku: Africa Community Leadership and Development, Nairobi, P.O. Box 24619, Kenya
Sato Ashida: Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
William T. Story: Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: There is an increasing global acknowledgment of the critical role that men have as key partners in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). Most male-engagement initiatives do not address the perceived benefits and risks that women may experience because of increased male participation in MNCH, especially in Kenya. The aim of this study, therefore, is to qualitatively assess how women perceive and experience increased male engagement in MNCH in western Kenya. Using a phenomenological approach, 53 women (35 mothers and 18 mothers-in-law) were purposively selected from seven communities in Kakamega County and participated in seven focus group discussions (FGD) in November and December 2020. Our findings suggest that the level of support for increased male involvement in MNCH varies depending on the type of participant. While mothers-in-law were less supportive of increased male involvement, mothers were more supportive of male involvement that fosters gender equity, such as joint decision making. Most mothers-in-law argued that women are ‘naturally’ closer to children, that men cannot care for children and their involvement may harm children, and men’s involvement may give men more control over women’s spaces. These findings show that programmatic initiatives to enhance male engagement in MNCH must consider mothers-in-law’s concerns and leverage mothers’ desire to engage men in a gender-equitable way.

Keywords: Kenya; maternal; newborn; child health; male engagement; qualitative methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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