'Because he loves me': Husbands' involvement in maternal health in Guatemala

Abstract

This study aimed to extend notions of male involvement to maternal health and to understand how Guatemalan men and women think about husband involvement in pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Based on individual interviews and focus groups with men, women, and community health workers in two areas of rural Guatemala, this paper describes the pregnancy-related advice and assistance husbands give, and the reasons men are and are not involved in maternal health. Both men and women reported that male involvement in maternal health is relatively high, desirable, unique and affected by many factors. These include love, men's work demands, economic concerns and men's knowledge. The results help to fill broad gaps in understanding of male involvement in this aspect of family health and to amend stereotypes about husbands' relationship to maternal health and health care.