Engaging men to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding: a descriptive review of 28 projects in 20 low- and middle-income countries from 2003 to 2013

Autor: Debra Prosnitz, Jeniece L. Alvey, James C. Thomas, Jennifer Yourkavitch
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Male
Gerontology
medicine.medical_specialty
Health
Toxicology and Mutagenesis

media_common.quotation_subject
Health Behavior
Breastfeeding
Health Promotion
03 medical and health sciences
Sex Factors
0302 clinical medicine
Promotion (rank)
5. Gender equality
030225 pediatrics
Epidemiology
medicine
Humans
Community Health Services
030212 general & internal medicine
Baseline (configuration management)
lcsh:RC620-627
Breastfeeding support
media_common
Public health
lcsh:Public aspects of medicine
Behavior change
Psychosocial Support Systems
Public Health
Environmental and Occupational Health

Male involvement
Gender
Men
lcsh:RA1-1270
Exclusive breastfeeding
lcsh:Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Breast Feeding
Low and middle income countries
Women's Health
Attitude to Health
Research Article
Food Science
Zdroj: Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, Vol 36, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2017)
Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition
ISSN: 2072-1315
Popis: Background Lay support has been associated with improved breastfeeding practices, but studies of programs that engage men in breastfeeding support have shown mixed results and most are from high-income countries. The purpose of our research is to review strategies to engage men in exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) promotion or support in 28 project areas across 20 low- and middle-income countries. This information may be used to inform program implementers and policymakers seeking to increase EBF. Methods We tested the difference between baseline and final EBF proportions using Pearson’s chi-square (a = 0.05) and identified project areas with a significant increase. We categorized male engagement strategies as low- and high-intensity, using information from project reports. We looked for patterns by intensity and geography and described strategies used to engage men in different places. Results Twenty-eight projects were reviewed; 21 (75%) were in areas where a statistically significant increase in EBF was observed between the beginning and end of the project. A variety of high- and low-intensity male engagement strategies was used in areas with an increase in EBF prevalence and in all geographic regions. High-intensity strategies engaged men directly during home or health visits by forming men’s groups and by working with male community leaders or members to promote EBF. Low-intensity strategies included large community meetings that included men, and radio messages, and other behavior change materials directed towards men. Conclusion Male engagement strategies took many forms in these project areas. We did not find consistent associations between the intensities or types of male engagement strategies and increases in EBF proportions. There is a gap in understanding how gender norms might impact male involvement in women’s health behaviors. This review does not support the broad application of male engagement to improve EBF practices, and we recommend considering local gender norms when designing programs to support women to EBF.
Databáze: OpenAIRE