ABSTRACT
To determine whether an intervention to involve the male partners of pregnant women in maternity care influenced care-seeking, healthy breastfeeding and contraceptive practices after childbirth in urban Burkina Faso. Methods:In a non-blinded, multicentre, parallel-group, superiority trial, 1144 women were assigned by simple randomization to two study arms: 583 entered the intervention arm and 561 entered the control arm. All women were cohabiting with a male partner and had a low-risk pregnancy. Recruitment took place at 20 to 36 weeks' gestation at five primary health centres in Bobo-Dioulasso. The intervention comprised three educational sessions: (i) an interactive group session during pregnancy with male partners only, to discuss their role; (ii) a counselling session during pregnancy for individual couples; and (iii) a postnatal couple counselling session. The control group received routine care only. We followed up participants at 3 and 8 months postpartum.Findings:The follow-up rate was over 96% at both times. In the intervention arm, 74% (432/583) of couples or men attended at least two study sessions. Attendance at two or more outpatient postnatal care consultations was more frequent in the intervention than the control group (risk difference, RD: 11.7%; 95% confidence interval, CI: 6.0 to 17.5), as was exclusive breastfeeding 3 months postpartum (RD: 11.4%; 95% CI: 5.8 to 17.2) and effective modern contraception use 8 months postpartum (RD: 6.4%; 95% CI: 0.5 to 12.3). Conclusion:Involving men as supportive partners in maternity care was associated with better adherence to recommended healthy practices after childbirth
Subject(s)
Obstetrics , SpousesABSTRACT
Many studies have shown a significant relationship between religion and health in Western countries. In developing countries; however; there is a dearth of scientific studies on the matter. Using data from the Ouagadougou Health and Demographic Surveillance System; this paper examines religious differences in child vaccination rates in five districts of Ouagadougou; Burkina Faso. It tests the applicability of the selectivity hypothesis; which holds that religious differences in health come from underlying differences in the socioeconomic and demographic composition of religious communities. In our study population; even when socioeconomic and demographic characteristics are taken into account; an effect of religion on child vaccination rates was observed. This suggests that religious disparities in child vaccination rates are not solely due to the makeup of different religious communities; but also to ideological differences and/or to diffusion effects from interactions within religious groups. The religious differences demonstrated here suggest that a greater emphasis should be put on community-based approaches involving religious leaders when addressing health disparities