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Table 1 Proposed interventions linked to factors influencing male involvement

From: “The co-authors of pregnancy”: leveraging men’s sense of responsibility and other factors for male involvement in antenatal services in Kinshasa, DRC

Proposed Intervention

Addressing facilitators

Addressing barriers

Male partner invitation letters

Content to include men’s responsibility as the father and encourage attendance based on love for his family to help ensure a healthy pregnancy

• Sense of male responsibility

• Desire to understand progression of partner’s pregnancy and receive counseling from clinic staff

• Mother or child health problems requiring urgent attention

• Pregnancy considered to be the woman’s domain

• Men’s fear of HIV testing

Content to include men’s need to understand how the pregnancy is progressing and what to expect during delivery

Tone should convey importance without being alarmist (though criticality should be communicated if appropriate)

Letter should be written by the doctor and highlight her/his credibility in order to convey authority

HIV should not be specifically mentioned

Male- and couple-friendly improvements to ANC

Male-specific services and counseling or greater involvement of men in ANC

• Desire to understand progression of partner’s pregnancy and receive counseling from clinic staff

• To be tested for HIV

• Lack of time/work commitment

• Clinic environment unwelcoming to men

• Pregnancy considered to be the woman’s domain

Reduce time spent at clinic

Separate spaces for couples with available seating

More attentive health workers, sensitive to the needs of couples

“Expert” peer-to-peer outreach

Help men to understand the importance of attending ANC and what to expect during delivery

• Sense of male responsibility

• Desire to understand progression of partner’s pregnancy and receive counseling from clinic staff

• Lack of time/work commitment

• Clinic environment unwelcoming to men

• Pregnancy considered to be the woman’s domain

Peers will serve as a conduit to the health facility and refer men to clinicians for counseling and services

Offer men an opportunity to discuss pregnancy and other health-related issues outside the clinic and without women present