Title : Utilizing health system male inclusive approach in HIV and maternal and child health services: Improved male partner, family and community Transdisciplinary Strategy
Abstract:
Background: Lesotho has the highest HIV prevalence of 25 % while maternal mortality is indicated to be 554 per 100 000 live births. Ministry of Health provides comprehensive primary health care services at the health centers. Therefore community, family and male inclusive health services ought to be fostered in order to reduce the Mother to Child Transmission, HIV incidences and to improve maternal and child health indicators. However, Male partner engagement in maternal and child health services remains pivotal, nonetheless there are also demonstrated challenges that require to be fulfilled in order to improve their involvement, decision making in health seeking behaviors by their female pregnant and nursing mothers.
Objectives: To describe the Basotho beliefs, attitudes about the involvement of male partners in maternal and child health services, and develop a model to address the inconsistencies.
Method: The use of a qualitative, descriptive research design with focus group discussion during data collection to obtain rich descriptions of male partners views and perspective has been employed. Probing questions were asked in order to pursue in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. Tech’s descriptive method of data analysis was used.
Findings: The findings demonstrated the gaps that require to be fulfilled in order to enhance male partner engagement and involvement in MCH services. The challenges are demonstrated from the attitude of health care, feeling lonely when they presented at the health facilities accompanying their pregnant and nursing mothers and lack of work and employment policies that allow them to take day offs in order to accompany their pregnant and nursing spouses to the health facilities. They also verbalized the strategies that can be implemented to enhance male involvement.
Interpretation: Collaborative Strategies and health system requires to be strengthened in order to establish male partner inclusive and responsive maternal and child health services and for elimination of mother to child transmissions and HIV incidences.
