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Table 2 Intervention studies included

From: Male partner involvement in birth preparedness, complication readiness and obstetric emergencies in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

Interventional studies n = 1983 and 12 FGD

Authors (date)

Country & Study design

Aim

Inclusion criteria and sample (n)

Intervention details & duration

Sampling and recruitment strategy

Data source & analysis

Findings

QA

Nigeria

 Ibrahim et al. (2014) [46]

Nigeria: Quasi-experimental study

To assess the effect of a health promotion intervention on MP involvement in BPCR

Married men whose wives had been pregnant in preceding 3 years

(205 pre and 206 post)

Behavioural intervention Five interactive workshops. A film shown and discussion. Almanacs with messages of MP involvement and reproductive health

Multistage random sampling of intervention and control group

Standardised survey and qualitative interviews with all participants.

-Pre-post surveys analysed. Qualitative data thematically analysed.

No increase or change in BPCR following intervention. Qualitative analysis revealed religious beliefs prohibited BPCR

.45†

Tanzania

 Mushi, Mpembeni & Jahn (2010) [47]

Tanzania: Quasi experimental

To develop, test and assess safe motherhood intervention

Pregnant women and their partners

Age 19–53, median 29. 62% married, most married by 18 years old, 41% never been to school. 94% Muslim

(242:153 women, 69 partners

Safe Motherhood Intervention

Home visits with pregnant women and husband and key community members about danger signs, complications, BPCR, ANC, and birth with a skilled attendant

Random sample of residents in four villages pre and post intervention

Questionnaire: demographic, attendance ANC, risk factors, referral status, place of birth. Qualitative: iSSI with closed and open-ended questions. Referral information.

-Outcomes compared pre and post.

-No significant differences in MP knowledge of danger signs between pre and post intervention

-MP awareness of: 3 risk practices during pregnancy pre 58 (58%) vs post 39 (55%); 3 danger signs during pregnancy pre 54 (54%) vs 42 (60.9%); 3 complications during delivery pre 41 (41%) vs post 36 (52.2%); 3 practices that contribute to delay in seeking care pre 52 (52%) vs post 40 (58%); MP who did not believe pregnancy complications are due to non-observance of tradition pre 36 (36%) vs 40 (58%).

.67†

 August, Pembe, Mpembeni, Axemo & Darj (2016) [48]

Tanzania: Quantitative pre/post quasi experimental

To evaluate the Home Based Life Saving Skills in terms of male knowledge of danger signs, joint decision making, birth preparedness and attending ANC

Men with partners who gave birth in last 2 years

(1426)

Home Based Life Saving Skills

-Joint training of pregnant women and family

Aim to educate about BPCR, danger signs, promote health seeking behaviour and provide skills to handle emergencies

Teaching through checklists, skill acquisition and Take Action cards

Four home visits

Two-stage cluster sampling, random sampling of villages with all eligible men approached.

-intervention and comparison group

Standardised JHPIEGO questionnaire

Descriptive statistics, net intervention effect difference between baseline and endline in intervention minus effect in comparison group

Outcomes reported as Net Intervention Effect (NIE): Effect of the intervention on male involvement:

−3+ danger signs during pregnancy, 3+ during childbirth, and 3+ during postpartum NIE = 27% (CI: 15.3–38.5; p < 0.001).

-MP who made three or more BP/CR actions increased significantly, NIE = 26.8%, CI: 15.3–38.2; p < 0.001).

1. †

Uganda

 Ekirapa-Kiracho et al. (2016) [49]

Uganda: Evaluation study FGD, IDI

To reflect on gains, challenges and lessons learnt from working with communities to improve maternal and newborn health in rural Uganda

Women who recently gave birth and their partners

Community stakeholders

(20 IDIs & 12 FGDs)

Participatory Action Research MANIFEST (maternal and neonatal implementation for equitable systems)

Aim to increase maternal and newborn health through community awareness

Intervention: diagnose problem, plan action, take action, learn from action

Not described

Topic guide not described

Thematic analysis

-No quantitative analysis of MP BPCR changes

-Men and women anecdotally reported increased awareness about BPCR

-Alternative communication strategies are needed to reach men outside the minority who were involved in home visits and community meetings

-Some changes were observed among men following intervention, e.g. increased support via nutritious diets, purchasing birth items, and saving for childbirth said women during FGDs.

.60*

  1. MP Male partner, FGD Focus group discussions, IDI In-depth interview, SSI Semi-structured interview, SBA Skilled birth attendant, HW Health worker, TBA Traditional birth attendant, ANC Antenatal care, MCH Maternal child health, QA Quality assessment max score 1, JHPIEGO John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics, MP Male partner, * Kmet qualitative checklist, † Kmet quantitative checklist, NIE Net Intervention Effect (difference between baseline and endline in intervention minus comparison group)