Peer-reviewed article
Effect of male partners' involvement and support on reproductive, maternal and child health and well‐being in East Africa: A scoping review
Richard J. Fletcher, Faye Forbes, Abel Fekadu Dadi, Getachew Mullu Kassa, Casey Regan et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This scoping review examined research from East Africa on how male partners' involvement and support affects maternal, reproductive, and child health. The review found that male partner involvement is associated with improvements across many health outcomes including antenatal care, breastfeeding, and family planning. However, when male partners lack support or engage in violence, there are serious negative impacts on maternal and child well-being. The evidence shows promise but studies used different measures and methods, making direct comparison difficult.
Key points
- Male partner involvement and support is associated with improved reproductive and maternal/child health outcomes across multiple areas
- Male partners' lack of practical and emotional support is associated with negative impacts on maternal and child health
- Male partners' engagement in violent behaviors towards partners has profound negative impacts on maternal and child well-being
- Studies reviewed were heterogeneous, using diverse exposure and outcome measures, limiting the ability to draw firm conclusions
- Agreement on a standard measure of male partner 'involvement' is needed to advance research in this field
Limitations
As a scoping review, this study maps the evidence landscape rather than synthesizing findings through meta-analysis, so it cannot quantify the magnitude of effects. The exclusion of qualitative studies means it does not capture perspectives and contextual factors that shape male partner involvement in East Africa.
Abstract
Background and Aims: East African countries have high rates of maternal and child mortality and morbidity. Studies have shown that the involvement of male partners in reproductive health can benefit maternal and child health (MCH). This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the evidence across East Africa that describes male partner involvement and its effect on maternal, reproductive, and child well-being. Methods: Ten databases were searched to identify quantitative data on male's involvement in East Africa. Studies reporting qualitative data, "intention to use" data or only reporting on male partner's education or economic status were excluded. Studies were organized into five a priori categories: antenatal care (ANC), human immunodeficiency virus, breastfeeding, family planning, and intimate partner violence with further categories developed based on studies included. Results: = 10). The evidence indicates that male partner involvement and support is associated with improved reproductive, MCH across a wide range of outcomes. However, the studies were heterogeneous, using diverse exposure and outcome measures. Also, male partners' lack of practical and emotional support, and engagement in violent behaviors towards partners, were associated with profound negative impacts on MCH and well-being. Conclusions: The body of evidence, although heterogeneous, provides compelling support for male involvement in reproductive health programs designed to support MCH. To advance research in this field, an agreement is needed on a measure of male partner "involvement." To optimize benefits of male partners' involvement, developing core outcome sets and regional coordination are recommended.