Use of skilled care during antenatal visits and delivery is recommended to address the burden of maternal mortality. However there are few facility deliveries and insufficient knowledge of danger signs, especially in rural Tanzania.  The aim of this thesis was to explore the perceptions and challenges that the community faces while preparing for childbirth and to evaluate an intervention of the Home Based Life Saving Skills education programme on knowledge of danger signs, facility delivery and male involvement when delivered by rural community health workers in Tanzania. In Paper I, Focus Group Discussions explored the perceptions and challenges that the community encounters while preparing for childbirth. Structured questionnaires assessed men’s knowledge of danger signs and birth preparedness and complication readiness in Paper II. The effect of the Home Based Life Saving Skills education programme in the community was assessed with a before-and-after evaluation in two districts; one intervention and one comparison. Paper III assessed the effect of the programme on knowledge of danger signs and birth preparedness and facility delivery among women, while Paper IV evaluated its effect on male involvement. The community perceived that all births must be prepared for and that obstetric complication demands hospital care; hence skilled care was favoured. Men’s knowledge of danger signs was limited; only 12% were prepared for childbirth and complications. Preparedness was associated with knowledge of obstetric complications (AOR=1.4 95% CI 1.8 – 2.6). The intervention showed women utilizing antenatal care (four visits) significantly more (43.4 vs 67.8%) with a net effect of 25.3% (95% CI: 16.9 – 33.2; p < .0001). The use of facility delivery improved in the intervention area (75.6 vs 90.2%; p = 0.0002), but with no significant net effect 11.5% (95% CI: -5.1 – 39.6; p = 0.123) when comparing the two districts. Male involvement improved (39.2% vs 80.9%) with a net intervention effect of 41.1% (CI: 28.5 – 53.8; p < .0001). Improvements were demonstrated in men’s knowledge level, in escorting partners for antenatal care and delivery, making birth preparations, and shared decision-making. The intervention, in educating this rural community, is effective in improving knowledge, birth preparedness, male involvement and use of skilled care.

Rwanda has made significant progress in decreasing the number of maternal deaths and increasing the number of antenatal care visits and childbirths at health facilities. This thesis seeks to illuminate potential barriers for Rwanda’s goal for maternal survival. The studies explore the bottom-up perspective of policies and practices in regards to maternal care in Kigali. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between 2013 and 2016 with women who nearly died (‘near-miss’) during pregnancy, their partners, and with other recent fathers and community members, as well as healthcare providers who work within abortion care. The framework of naturalistic inquiry guided the study design and data collection. Analysis was conducted using framework analysis, thematic analysis and naturalistic inquiry. The findings identify paradoxical outcomes in the implementation of maternal care policies. Despite recent amendments of the abortion law, safe abortion was identified as being non-accessible. Abortion-related symptoms continue to carry a criminalized and stigmatized label, which encourages risk-taking and clandestine solutions to unwanted pregnancies, and causes care-seeking delays for women with obstetric complications in early pregnancy. Healthcare providers had limited awareness of the current abortion law, and described tensions in exercising their profession due to fear of litigation. The first antenatal care visit appeared to require the accompaniment of a male partner, which underpinned women’s reliance on men in their care-seeking. Men expressed interest in taking part in maternal care, but faced resistance for further engagement from healthcare providers. Giving birth at a health facility was identified as mandatory, yet care was experienced as suboptimal. Disrespect during counseling and care was identified, leading to repeated care-seeking and may underpin the uptake of traditional medicine. An enhanced implementation of the current abortion law is recommended. Reconsideration of policy is recommended to ensure equitable and complete access to antenatal care: women should be able to seek care accompanied by their person of choice. These findings further recommend action for improved policy to better address men’s preferred inclusion in maternal health matters. The findings of this thesis promote continued attention to implementing changes to strengthen quality, and trust, in public maternal care.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Globally, approximately 600,000 infants each year are born with HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa as a result of mother to child transmission (MTCT) (UNAIDS, 2001). Whereas there is significant progress in reduction of mother to child transmission of HIV in Uganda, the Western Region of Uganda has low rates of PMTCT service utilization. The progress has been hampered by many factors including low male involvement (MOH, 2005). The main objective of this study was therefore to identify some of the factors that discourage men from participating in PMCT services in this region. The study was conducted in Kibaale District in the Western Region of Uganda for a period of one month in mid 2009. Data was collected using a qualitative methodology. The tools that were used for data collection were key informant in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) guides. Data was collected from PMTCT service providers, women of reproductive age group and men whose partners had given birth during the last year (2008). For the focus groups, a purposive sample of men and women who had some children born in 2008, followed by random sampling from the list of potential subjects was used to select participants. The study sample comprised of three FGDs of women who had given birth in year 2008 and male partners of women who had also given birth in 2008. Each FGD consisted of eight participants. One FGD was with women only, the other with men only, while the third was with both men and women.

ObjeEste estudo teve como objetivo primário avaliar a estratégia de incluir o parceiro na assistência pré-natal no município de Franca-Brasil. Constituíram os objetivos secundários: 1) Detectar a prevalência de parceiros com dosagens alteradas de colesterol total, HDL-colesterol, LDL-colesterol e triglicérides; 2) Detectar a prevalência de parceiros com dosagens alteradas de glicemia de jejum; 3) Detectar a prevalência de parceiros com HAS; 4) Detectar a prevalência da sífilis, HIV, hepatites B e C entre gestantes; 5) Verificar a taxa de DMG e de DM entre as gestantes; 6) Detectar a prevalência da sífilis, HIV, hepatites B e C entre os parceiros das gestantes; 7) Avaliar a motivação da equipe de saúde em acolher a Estratégia Pré-natal do Parceiro; 8) Avaliar a aceitação materna e do parceiro sobre a estratégia de inclusão do parceiro na assistência PN. Estudo quantitativo, utilizado o teste \"t\" de Student para comparações das variáveis paramétricas e o teste Qui-quadrado para as variáveis não paramétricas, considerando significativo o valor de p< 0,05 em quaisquer dos testes. Os resultados identificaram quatro parceiros com hipertensão arterial (3,4%) e 51 (43,2%) com intolerância à glicose, verificando-se que em quatro casos, a glicemia possibilitou diagnosticar diabetes mellitus. Constatou-se que a prevalência de dislipidemias dos parceiros foi de 84,4%. No tocante às sorologias identificou-se um casal (1,5%) com sorologia discordante para sífilis (gestante com sífilis) e outro casal, no qual o parceiro foi diagnosticado como portador da infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV), cujo diagnóstico só foi possível por sua participação no PNP. Foi possível identificar que 57 parceiros (48,3%) qualificaram as equipes de saúde com não motivadoras para a adoção da estratégia PNP. No entanto, 58 (49,1%) participaram por motivação própria. A percepção paterna sobre o PNP foi referida como positiva por 77,9% dos parceiros e 93 gestantes/mães (78,8%) consideraram importante e positiva a inclusão do parceiro no PN. Foi identificado que a inclusão do parceiro no PN foi importante no diagnóstico e tratamento precoces de doenças de transmissão vertical e crônicas e que é necessário incentivar a equipe de saúde a difundir os benefícios dessa participação no PN, contribuindo com a saúde da tríade mãe, filho e parceiro. / This study\'s primary objective was to analyze the strategy of including the male partner in prenatal care in the city of Franca, Brazil. The secondary objectives were: 1) To detect the prevalence of male partners with abnormal levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides; 2) To detect the prevalence of male partners with abnormal levels of fasting blood glucose; 3) To detect the prevalence of systemic hypertension among male partners; 4) To detect the prevalence of syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among pregnant women; 5) To find out the frequency of Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and of Diabetes mellitus (DM) among pregnant women; 6) To detect the prevalence of syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among the pregnant women\'s male partners; 7) To gauge the health team\'s motivation to implement the strategy of male involvement in prenatal care; 8) To assess maternal acceptance and male partner acceptance of the strategy of including the male partner in prenatal care. This was a quantitative study, which used the Student\'s t-test to compare parametric variables and the Chi-squared test for the nonparametric variables and which considered a p-value < 0.05 as significant in both tests. The results identified 4 male partners with hypertension (3.4%) and 51 male partners (43.2%) with glucose intolerance, of which four had a diagnosis of Diabetes mellitus as a result of the blood glucose test. We found that the Anexos 100 prevalence of dyslipidemia among the male partners was 84.4%. Regarding serology tests, we identified a couple (1.5%) with discordant syphilis serology (pregnant woman with syphilis) and another couple in which the male partner was diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection with such diagnosis only having been possible because of his participation in prenatal care. We could identify that 57 male partners (48.3%) classified the health teams as not encouraging of the male involvement in prenatal care. However, 58 male partners (49.1%) participated by selfmotivation. The fathers\' perception of their involvement in prenatal care was referred to as positive by 77.9% of the male partners and 93 pregnant women / mothers (78.8%) considered the inclusion of the male partner in prenatal care important and positive. We identified that the inclusion of the male partner in prenatal care was important in the early diagnosis and early treatment of vertical transmission diseases and chronic diseases as well as that it is crucial to encourage health teams to communicate the benefits of the inclusion of the male partner in prenatal care, thus contributing to the health of the father- mother-child triad.

ObjeEste estudo teve como objetivo primário avaliar a estratégia de incluir o parceiro na assistência pré-natal no município de Franca-Brasil. Constituíram os objetivos secundários: 1) Detectar a prevalência de parceiros com dosagens alteradas de colesterol total, HDL-colesterol, LDL-colesterol e triglicérides; 2) Detectar a prevalência de parceiros com dosagens alteradas de glicemia de jejum; 3) Detectar a prevalência de parceiros com HAS; 4) Detectar a prevalência da sífilis, HIV, hepatites B e C entre gestantes; 5) Verificar a taxa de DMG e de DM entre as gestantes; 6) Detectar a prevalência da sífilis, HIV, hepatites B e C entre os parceiros das gestantes; 7) Avaliar a motivação da equipe de saúde em acolher a Estratégia Pré-natal do Parceiro; 8) Avaliar a aceitação materna e do parceiro sobre a estratégia de inclusão do parceiro na assistência PN. Estudo quantitativo, utilizado o teste \"t\" de Student para comparações das variáveis paramétricas e o teste Qui-quadrado para as variáveis não paramétricas, considerando significativo o valor de p< 0,05 em quaisquer dos testes. Os resultados identificaram quatro parceiros com hipertensão arterial (3,4%) e 51 (43,2%) com intolerância à glicose, verificando-se que em quatro casos, a glicemia possibilitou diagnosticar diabetes mellitus. Constatou-se que a prevalência de dislipidemias dos parceiros foi de 84,4%. No tocante às sorologias identificou-se um casal (1,5%) com sorologia discordante para sífilis (gestante com sífilis) e outro casal, no qual o parceiro foi diagnosticado como portador da infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV), cujo diagnóstico só foi possível por sua participação no PNP. Foi possível identificar que 57 parceiros (48,3%) qualificaram as equipes de saúde com não motivadoras para a adoção da estratégia PNP. No entanto, 58 (49,1%) participaram por motivação própria. A percepção paterna sobre o PNP foi referida como positiva por 77,9% dos parceiros e 93 gestantes/mães (78,8%) consideraram importante e positiva a inclusão do parceiro no PN. Foi identificado que a inclusão do parceiro no PN foi importante no diagnóstico e tratamento precoces de doenças de transmissão vertical e crônicas e que é necessário incentivar a equipe de saúde a difundir os benefícios dessa participação no PN, contribuindo com a saúde da tríade mãe, filho e parceiro. / This study\'s primary objective was to analyze the strategy of including the male partner in prenatal care in the city of Franca, Brazil. The secondary objectives were: 1) To detect the prevalence of male partners with abnormal levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides; 2) To detect the prevalence of male partners with abnormal levels of fasting blood glucose; 3) To detect the prevalence of systemic hypertension among male partners; 4) To detect the prevalence of syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among pregnant women; 5) To find out the frequency of Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and of Diabetes mellitus (DM) among pregnant women; 6) To detect the prevalence of syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among the pregnant women\'s male partners; 7) To gauge the health team\'s motivation to implement the strategy of male involvement in prenatal care; 8) To assess maternal acceptance and male partner acceptance of the strategy of including the male partner in prenatal care. This was a quantitative study, which used the Student\'s t-test to compare parametric variables and the Chi-squared test for the nonparametric variables and which considered a p-value < 0.05 as significant in both tests. The results identified 4 male partners with hypertension (3.4%) and 51 male partners (43.2%) with glucose intolerance, of which four had a diagnosis of Diabetes mellitus as a result of the blood glucose test. We found that the Anexos 100 prevalence of dyslipidemia among the male partners was 84.4%. Regarding serology tests, we identified a couple (1.5%) with discordant syphilis serology (pregnant woman with syphilis) and another couple in which the male partner was diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection with such diagnosis only having been possible because of his participation in prenatal care. We could identify that 57 male partners (48.3%) classified the health teams as not encouraging of the male involvement in prenatal care. However, 58 male partners (49.1%) participated by selfmotivation. The fathers\' perception of their involvement in prenatal care was referred to as positive by 77.9% of the male partners and 93 pregnant women / mothers (78.8%) considered the inclusion of the male partner in prenatal care important and positive. We identified that the inclusion of the male partner in prenatal care was important in the early diagnosis and early treatment of vertical transmission diseases and chronic diseases as well as that it is crucial to encourage health teams to communicate the benefits of the inclusion of the male partner in prenatal care, thus contributing to the health of the father- mother-child triad.