Male Involvement in Maternal Health Planning Key to Utilization of Skilled Birth Services in Malindi Subcounty, Kenya

Background. In Malindi, rural populations face challenges in accessing skilled birth services. Consequently, the majority of women deliver at home and only seek help when they have complications. This paper reports part findings from a study conducted to assess health priority setting process and it...

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Main Authors: Lilian Nyamusi Nyandieka, Mercy Karimi Njeru, Zipporah Ng’ang’a, Elizabeth Echoka, Yeri Kombe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Advances in Public Health
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5608198
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author Lilian Nyamusi Nyandieka
Mercy Karimi Njeru
Zipporah Ng’ang’a
Elizabeth Echoka
Yeri Kombe
author_facet Lilian Nyamusi Nyandieka
Mercy Karimi Njeru
Zipporah Ng’ang’a
Elizabeth Echoka
Yeri Kombe
author_sort Lilian Nyamusi Nyandieka
collection DOAJ
description Background. In Malindi, rural populations face challenges in accessing skilled birth services. Consequently, the majority of women deliver at home and only seek help when they have complications. This paper reports part findings from a study conducted to assess health priority setting process and its implication on availability, access, and use of emergency obstetric care services in Malindi. Methods. The study utilized qualitative methods to collect data from health personnel and maternal health stakeholders including community members. Source and method triangulation was used to strengthen the credibility of study findings. Data was categorized manually into themes around issues relating to utilization of skilled birth services discussed in this paper. Findings. Various barriers to utilization of skilled birth services were cited. However, most were linked to mwenye (the husband) who decides on the place of birth for the wife. Conclusion. Husbands are very influential in regard to decisions on skilled birth service utilization in this community. Their lack of involvement in maternal health planning may contribute as a barrier to utilization of skilled care by pregnant women. There is need to address the mwenye factor in an attempt to mitigate some of the barriers cited for nonutilization of skilled birth services.
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spelling doaj-art-31fc9d60068c4db0bc1e80a5c138d7112025-08-20T03:55:03ZengWileyAdvances in Public Health2356-68682314-77842016-01-01201610.1155/2016/56081985608198Male Involvement in Maternal Health Planning Key to Utilization of Skilled Birth Services in Malindi Subcounty, KenyaLilian Nyamusi Nyandieka0Mercy Karimi Njeru1Zipporah Ng’ang’a2Elizabeth Echoka3Yeri Kombe4Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 20752, Nairobi 00202, KenyaCentre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 20752, Nairobi 00202, KenyaInstitute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi 00200, KenyaCentre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 20752, Nairobi 00202, KenyaCentre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 20752, Nairobi 00202, KenyaBackground. In Malindi, rural populations face challenges in accessing skilled birth services. Consequently, the majority of women deliver at home and only seek help when they have complications. This paper reports part findings from a study conducted to assess health priority setting process and its implication on availability, access, and use of emergency obstetric care services in Malindi. Methods. The study utilized qualitative methods to collect data from health personnel and maternal health stakeholders including community members. Source and method triangulation was used to strengthen the credibility of study findings. Data was categorized manually into themes around issues relating to utilization of skilled birth services discussed in this paper. Findings. Various barriers to utilization of skilled birth services were cited. However, most were linked to mwenye (the husband) who decides on the place of birth for the wife. Conclusion. Husbands are very influential in regard to decisions on skilled birth service utilization in this community. Their lack of involvement in maternal health planning may contribute as a barrier to utilization of skilled care by pregnant women. There is need to address the mwenye factor in an attempt to mitigate some of the barriers cited for nonutilization of skilled birth services.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5608198
spellingShingle Lilian Nyamusi Nyandieka
Mercy Karimi Njeru
Zipporah Ng’ang’a
Elizabeth Echoka
Yeri Kombe
Male Involvement in Maternal Health Planning Key to Utilization of Skilled Birth Services in Malindi Subcounty, Kenya
Advances in Public Health
title Male Involvement in Maternal Health Planning Key to Utilization of Skilled Birth Services in Malindi Subcounty, Kenya
title_full Male Involvement in Maternal Health Planning Key to Utilization of Skilled Birth Services in Malindi Subcounty, Kenya
title_fullStr Male Involvement in Maternal Health Planning Key to Utilization of Skilled Birth Services in Malindi Subcounty, Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Male Involvement in Maternal Health Planning Key to Utilization of Skilled Birth Services in Malindi Subcounty, Kenya
title_short Male Involvement in Maternal Health Planning Key to Utilization of Skilled Birth Services in Malindi Subcounty, Kenya
title_sort male involvement in maternal health planning key to utilization of skilled birth services in malindi subcounty kenya
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5608198
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