Understanding Gender-Based Perception During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study

Ketema Shibeshi; Yohannes Lemu; Lakew Gebretsadik; Abebe Gebretsadik; Sudhakar Morankar

doi:10.2147/IJWH.S418653

Understanding Gender-Based Perception During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study

Int J Womens Health. 2023 Oct 11:15:1523-1535. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S418653. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ketema Shibeshi¹, Yohannes Lemu², Lakew Gebretsadik², Abebe Gebretsadik², Sudhakar Morankar²

Affiliations

¹ Dire Dawa University Department of Public Health, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
² Jimma University Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Purpose: Gender-based perceptions about maternal health care during pregnancy draw attention to the existence of gender inequity in maternal health care. This study aimed to understand the gender-based perception of gender roles and norms, gender relations, social support, and psychosocial variation in maternal health care during pregnancy.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in three rural districts of Jimma, Ethiopia. Participants were purposefully chosen from the community groups, including male and female health development armies, religious leaders, health extension workers, midwifery nurses, and primary health care unit directors. The data was gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The actual data was collected by men and women qualitative study experts. Atlas ti Ver 9 was used for the analysis. The data was initially coded then changed to a sub-category and at last converted to a category.

Results: Four categories emerged: Gender-based roles and norms, psychosocial variation, social support, and gender relations. The informants described men's and women's independent and shared roles improve maternal health care service usage during pregnancy. Once the women became pregnant, men undertook a variety of demanding duties to enhance maternity service consumption. Gender relations and shared decision-making were essential in facilitating maternal healthcare utilization during pregnancy and beyond.

Conclusion: This study revealed that maternal health care should not be limited to women alone. Men's and women's prior maternal health experiences, in addition to their knowledge and beliefs, have significantly impacted the utilization of maternal healthcare services during pregnancy. Policymakers and academics should consider men's essential contribution to maternal health care during pregnancy. However, in order to increase their intention to use maternal health care services, it is necessary to clearly identify the interests of women in which men should be involved.

Keywords: belief; gender norm; gender relation; gender role; knowledge.

Grants and funding

The Safe Motherhood Project is supported by Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa Initiative grants #108028-001 (Jimma University) and #108028-002 (University of Ottawa), which are co-funded by Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Research, and Canada’s International Development Research Center. This study does not reflect the views of these organizations. They solely offered financial assistance for the research’s execution, with no involvement in the research process. Ensuring the information is accurate and grant numbers are correct.