Male responsibility in safe

motherhood

By
DR C.E ENYINDAH

Dr C.E Enyindah 1
 Introduction
High maternal mortality rate in
developing countries lead to safe
motherhood initiative – Nairobi Kenya
1987, Abuja Nigeria 1990
Uptil now there is no significant
improvement.
Nearly 600,000 women die each year
from complication of pregnancy and
childbirth (99% of these deaths
occurring in developing countries).

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33% OF NIGERIAN GIRLS START
REARING CHILDREN BEFORE THE
AGE OF 18YRS.
OVER 60% OF NIGERIAN GIRLS AND
BOYS ARE SEXUALLY ACTIVE
BEFORE THE AGE OF 17YRS

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 definition
Safe motherhood means ensuring
that all women receive the care they
need to be safe and healthy during
pregnancy and childbirth.

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 Lack of progress: can male
involvement help?
During 1st ten yrs of safe motherhood
initiative, no reduction in annual
number of maternal deaths related
to pregnancy.
Intervention rarely tried to counsel
male partners of pregnant women.
A few studies have shown promise,
but more research is needed.
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Causes of maternal deaths
severe
bleeding
infection
20% 25%
eclampsia

8% obstructed lab

13% 15%
unsafe
8% abortion
12%
other direct
causes
indirect causes 7
 Consequences of maternal
mortality
Effect of morbidity on women and
families
Physical disability
Psychological trauma
Social isolation
Infertility
Increased care-giving responsibilities
Reduced economic productivity.
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 Safe motherhood: human rights
and social justice
Women have limited:
Exposure to information about danger
signs during pregnancy/delivery.
Power in decision making
Access to education
Financial resources and mobility.

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 Why involve men?
Men are key decision-makers
regarding pregnancy and childbirth.
Men have generally not been
involved in trying to make pregnancy
and childbirth safer.

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 Safe motherhood: male
involvement
Safeguarding women’s health during
pregnancy – antenatal care and
nutrition.
Arranging for skilled care during
delivery.
Men often control decisions
Respond to complications
Seek medical help
Pay for transport
Allocate family and community 11

resources
 Concept of fathers club
Voluntary organisation formed
towards increasing awareness and
knowledge of reproductive health
among men.
The goal of the formation of fathers
club is to increase the understanding
and participation of Nigerian men in
reproductive health issues and
services
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 Members of the club
Local government councillor (supervisory
councillor for health)
PHC co-ordinators
Religious leaders
Transport organisation
Male dominated trades e.g butchers, cattle
rearers
Community development associations
Traditional council member
Other interested male e.g headmasters,
principals 13
 Criteria for membership
Must be a father
Must be resident in the community
concerned
Must be married (in stable
relationship)
Must have a credible and feasible
source of income
Must be a respectable person in the
community. 14
 Research needed on benefits of
fathering

Involving men in fathering may lead to:

Better communication, stronger bonding
between couples and among family
Better role modelling for children.
Increased commitment to contraceptive
use and practice of prevention behaviours
Increased support during pregnancy.
Reduced violence in the home.
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 Initial lessons learned
Egypt post-abortion care study
Women whose husbands were counselled
had better outcomes
India pre-natal care study
Involving men in pre-natal care increased
their involvement in their wives and
children’s health care
Jamaica teenage father study
Reaching out to baby fathers helped young
men stay involved with their child.
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 Promising research efforts
Midwives in Mexico are training men
as community health workers to
teach other men about reproductive
health.
Projects in 7 countries are focusing
on improving communications and
joint decision-making between men
and women about reproductive
health.
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 conclusion
Men’s role in safe motherhood
cannot be underestimated
May be the “tonic’ to reduction in
annual number of maternal mortality
and morbidity.

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