ReviewJournal of health, population, and nutrition2017
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.
Review in Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effectiveness of father-inclusive interventions on maternal, paternal, couples, and early child outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.Social science & medicine (1982) · 2023Pooled it
- Implementation characteristics of father-inclusive interventions in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2023Pooled it
- Effectiveness of targeting fathers for breastfeeding promotion: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2018Pooled it
- Effect of Male Partner-Targeted Breastfeeding Education and Support Interventions on Optimal Breastfeeding Practices in Central Ethiopia: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.Maternal & child nutrition · 2025Trial
- Educating fathers to improve exclusive breastfeeding practices: a randomized controlled trial.BMC health services research · 2022Trial
- Support or Interference: Relational Influences on Mother's Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices in Ghana.Maternal & child nutrition · 2025Article
- Social Norms: A Missing Ingredient of Programs Seeking to Foster Women's Agency in Nutrition.Current developments in nutrition · 2024Article
- Perception of spousal involvement in breastfeeding among women attending infant welfare clinic in a private Tertiary Health Institution in Ogun State, Nigeria.African health sciences · 2024Article
- Individual- and system-level determinants of breastfeeding in a low-resource setting.Frontiers in public health · 2024Review
- Breastfeeding among South Sudanese refugees in protracted settlements in Adjumani district, Uganda: facilitators and barriers.International breastfeeding journal · 2023Article
- Maternity protection entitlements for non-standard workers in low-and-middle-income countries and potential implications for breastfeeding practices: a scoping review of research since 2000.International breastfeeding journal · 2023Article
- Association of Male Partners' Gender-Equitable Attitudes and Behaviors with Young Mothers' Postpartum Family Planning and Maternal Health Outcomes in Kinshasa, DRC.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Experiences Engaging Family Members in Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Nutrition: A Survey of Global Health Professionals.Current developments in nutrition · 2022Article
- Exclusive breastfeeding in rural Western China: does father's co-residence matter?BMC public health · 2021Article
- Engaging family members in maternal, infant and young child nutrition activities in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic scoping review.Maternal & child nutrition · 2021Article
- Engaging fathers to improve complementary feeding is acceptable and feasible in the Lake Zone, Tanzania.Maternal & child nutrition · 2021Article
- Introduction: A family systems approach to promote maternal, child and adolescent nutrition.Maternal & child nutrition · 2021Article
- Mixed-Methods Systematic Review of Behavioral Interventions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries to Increase Family Support for Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition during the First 1000 Days.Current developments in nutrition · 2020Review
- Infant and young child feeding learning sessions during savings groups are feasible and acceptable for HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in Malawi.Maternal & child nutrition · 2019Article
- The forgotten father in obstetric medicine.Obstetric medicine · 2019Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundLay 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.
methodsWe 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.
resultsTwenty-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.
conclusionMale 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.
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