ArticleBMJ open2022
Men care too: a qualitative study examining women's perceptions of fathers' engagement in early childhood development (ECD) during an ECD program for HIV-positive mothers in Malawi.
Article in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Intersectionality of HIV Stigma with Female Identity: An Investigation among Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam.AIDS and behavior · 2025Article
- Engaging Family Members to Support Exclusive Breastfeeding, Responsive care, and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among Families with Children who are HIV-Exposed and Uninfected.AIDS and behavior · 2024Article
- Participation of fathers and siblings in home rehabilitation programmes for children with neuro-developmental delay: a scoping review.BMC pediatrics · 2024Article
- "We decided together": a qualitative study about women with HIV navigating infant-feeding decisions with the father of their children.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Article
- Fathers' engagement in a parenting program primarily intended for female caregivers: An early qualitative process evaluation in Western Kenya.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- 'When there is love between a father and mother, the child will also be loved': a qualitative exploration of the links between couples' relationships, parenting and early childhood development in Mwanza, Tanzania.BMJ public health · 2023Article
- Formative research to inform the future design of a multicomponent fatherhood intervention to improve early child development in Mwanza, Tanzania.Social science & medicine (1982) · 2023Article
- Health care workers' perceptions and bias toward men as HIV clients in Malawi and Mozambique: A qualitative study.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesIntegrated early childhood development (ECD) and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) interventions rarely target fathers, a missed opportunity given existing research demonstrating that father involvement improves maternal and child outcomes. We aimed to explore mother's perceptions of fathers' buy-in to an integrated PMTCT-ECD programme, any impact the programme had on couple dynamics, and perceived barriers to fathers' involvement in ECD activities.
designQualitative study using individual in-depth interviews with mothers participating in a PMTCT-ECD programme. Interviews assessed mothers' perceptions of father buy-in and engagement in the programme and ECD activities. Data were coded using inductive and deductive strategies and analysed using constant comparison methods in Atlas.ti V.1.6.
settingFour health facilities in Malawi where PMTCT services were provided.
participantsStudy participants were mothers infected with HIV who were enrolled in the PMTCT-ECD programme for >6 months.
interventionsThe PMTCT-ECD intervention provided ECD education and counselling sessions during routine PMTCT visits for mothers infected with HIV and their infants (infant age 1.5-24 months). The intervention did not target fathers, but mothers were encouraged to share information with them.
resultsInterviews were conducted with 29 mothers. Almost all mothers discussed the PMTCT-ECD intervention with male partners. Most mothers reported that fathers viewed ECD as valuable and practised ECD activities at home. Several reported improved partner relationships and increased communication due to the intervention. However, most mothers believed fathers would not attend the PMTCT-ECD intervention due to concerns regarding HIV-related stigma at PMTCT clinics, time required to attend and perceptions that the intervention was intended for women.
conclusionsFathers were interested in an integrated PMTCT-ECD programme and actively practised ECD activities at home, but felt uncomfortable visiting PMTCT clinics. Interventions should consider direct community outreach or implementing ECD programmes at facility entry points where men frequent, such as outpatient departments.
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