ArticlePloS one2026
Targeting men to improve maternal and child health and nutrition: A qualitative process evaluation of a mass media campaign in Tanzania's Lake Zone.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundUndernutrition in the 1000 days following conception can cause lasting damage. In Tanzania malnutrition is directly or indirectly responsible for 35% of all deaths among children under five. The ASTUTE project, delivered in the five Lake Zone regions of Tanzania (Mwanza, Shinyanga, Geita, Kagera, Kigoma), aimed to reduce the prevalence of child stunting by improving child and maternal nutrition practices. The project incorporated a mass media campaign designed to change behaviours, with a particular emphasis on shifting gender norms and engaging men.
objectiveThis paper focuses on the qualitative findings relating to the impact of the campaign on men's knowledge, attitudes, norms and behaviours.
methodsThroughout the period of radio and TV broadcasting, a qualitative process evaluation was conducted to assess the impact of the campaign on knowledge, attitudes, norms and behaviours. Between October 2017 and February 2020, a total of 59 focus group discussions were conducted with mothers, fathers and elder caregivers of a child aged under two years. Data were analyzed thematically.
resultsFathers reported that radio and TV spots increased their participation in maternal health by accompanying their partners to the ANC, supporting their nutrition intake, and reducing the workload of the mother during pregnancy. Radio and TV spots were also reported to increase men's engagement in child health by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding and nutritious complementary feeding.
conclusionMass media campaigns that target men's behaviour can have beneficial effects on maternal and child health. In particular, radio and TV messages targeting men appear to be able to mitigate some barriers arising from gender norms and women's social position in Tanzania.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.