Fathers: Powerful Allies for Maternal and Child Health
Male involvement in reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health is known to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
In fact, BMC underscores the involvement of men in the health of women and newborns around the time of childbirth as partners and agents of change.
This includes but not limited to supporting women during and after pregnancy helping them seek skilled care for birth, newborn care, nutrition, safe family planning after childbirth, and maternal mental health, which has the potential to directly address systematic and pervasive negative gender influences.
Additionally, it can also open opportunities to improve men’s own sexual and reproductive health and promote men’s roles as advocates for maternal, newborn, and child health.
However, this is contrary to what used to be the case years ago. Thirty-three-year-old Alfred Gomani from Malawi attests to the fact.
He explains: “I am a father to children namely Gift, Junior, and Peace but I tell you that throughout the first two pregnancies my wife had, I did not dare to escort her to the antenatal clinic, let alone participate in any sexual and reproductive health sessions because I thought by doing so, the entire community would see me like I have been bewitched.”
But now, tables have turned around, thanks to World Vision for introducing the Maternal and Child Health project.
The project has changed the perception of many men and enabled them to effectively participate in maternal and child health issues in their respective communities.
Suffice it to say that it all began with the training that World Vision conducted in June last, 2023.
World Vision trained 30 men on maternal and child health with emphasis on effective participation in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and nutrition, division of labour, gender infant feeding, and men’s roles in maternal and infant health among others.
Saukani benefited from the sessions alongside other 29 men.
The participants were tasked to impart the same knowledge to others using door-to-door visits or social gathering interventions.
“At first, we conducted an assessment to determine the number of lactating mothers, pregnant women, and under-five children,” he says adding: “…and in one of my errands, I came across Gomani’s household and discovered that his wife was pregnant. I took the opportunity to counsel them on safe motherhood, parental care, and complementary feeding.”
Even though Gomani had resistance to grasp the message at first, according to Manda, he was later convinced that the mission was to benefit his family.
Currently, Gomani escorts his wife to the prenatal clinic without being mocked by his fellow men and sometimes, he assists his wife with household chores.
According to Gomani's wife, Ellen, the development has strengthened their intimate relationship as a couple since they do everything together and live a happy life.