Association of Male Partners' Gender-Equitable Attitudes and Behaviors with Young Mothers' Postpartum Family Planning and Maternal Health Outcomes in Kinshasa, DRC

Association of Male Partners' Gender-Equitable Attitudes and Behaviors with Young Mothers' Postpartum Family Planning and Maternal Health Outcomes in Kinshasa, DRC

Inequitable gender norms can contribute to rapid repeat pregnancies and adverse maternal health outcomes among adolescent girls and young women. This study examined associations between male partners' gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors and postpartum family planning (FP) and maternal and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 19; no. 19; p. 12182
Main Authors: Gage, Anastasia J, Wood, Francine E, Kittoe, Darling, Murthy, Preethi, Gay, Rianne
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 26-09-2022
MDPI
Subjects:
Adolescent
Aggression
Attitude
Attitudes
Breast feeding
Decision Making
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Empowerment
Family planning
Family Planning Services
Female
Gender
Gender equity
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Male
Males
Maternal & child health
Mothers
Norms
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Postpartum
Postpartum Period
Pregnancy
Regression analysis
Womens health
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Africa
exclusive breastfeeding
maternal health
gender
male involvement
postpartum family planning
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Summary:Inequitable gender norms can contribute to rapid repeat pregnancies and adverse maternal health outcomes among adolescent girls and young women. This study examined associations between male partners' gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors and postpartum family planning (FP) and maternal and newborn health (MNH) outcomes among first-time mothers aged 15-24 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Participants were 1335 couples who were successfully interviewed in the Momentum project's 2018 baseline and 2020 endline surveys. Multivariable regression models were used to analyze predictors of postpartum FP discussion and use, shared MNH decision making, completion of the maternal health continuum of care, and exclusive breastfeeding. Male involvement in maternal health was significantly associated with FP discussion and shared decision making. Male partners' willingness to be involved in routine childcare and shared decision making were significant positive predictors of exclusive breastfeeding. Postpartum FP outcomes were shaped by the intersection of marital status and male partners' gender-equitable attitudes, intimate partner violence perpetration, and willingness to engage in routine childcare activities to constitute advantage for some outcomes and disadvantage for others. Interventions must use multiple measures to better understand how young mothers' health outcomes are shaped by their male partners' gender-related attitudes and behaviors.
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ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph191912182