Jacob Chege – our brilliant Project Office in Meru, Kenya – leads male partner sessions as part of our Team Mum initiative, offering practical information and guidance for male partners so they can better support mums-to-be.
Now affectionately dubbed ‘Team Dad’ by the community, the initiative engaged 2,816 men in our first three years in Meru. The sessions cover practical advice and information such as financial support to cover birth costs, recognising danger signs in pregnant partners and how to support with care for both mum and baby.
One of the best bits about the sessions is that they provide a co-supportive space for men to engage in dialogue around pregnancy and birth, sharing and learning together.
We surveyed male partners pre- and post-sessions and asked for their opinions on their role and the types of supportive behaviours we encourage. In the first surveys, 77.9% of the men agreed that it was their responsibility to support their partner by accompanying them to ANC clinics. The endline surveys showed this had increased to 90%.
We’ve seen really positive changes since engaging male partners; the Pregnant Women’s Groups have reported back that men are now fully engaged in supporting their pregnant partners.
– Isaiah, Community Health Promoter in Meru
Why male partner sessions matter in Meru
Male partner sessions are an important part of Team Mum. Cherio, our Programmes Manager, explains why:
The community in Meru is heavily patriarchal with very traditional roles for men and women. Men in this community have the presumption that the process of pregnancy, childbirth and childcare is a woman’s affair. What we have learnt from different sessions we have held with men here is that there is a lot of misinformation and lack of knowledge amongst many of them that contributes to this attitude. We therefore run these sessions to equip men within the community with the necessary knowledge to support their partners through pregnancy, childbirth and in childcare, especially during the first days of life.
We’re really proud of the response to the sessions – both the increase in referrals and engagement of men in the community, which reflects an overall positive response to the content and value of our male partner sessions. The team in Meru have been exceptional in overcoming some of the challenges – from resistance to Covid-19 – and encouraging men to attend initial community dialogue sessions, which helped boost attendance in the specific male partner sessions themselves. Given the success of this year, we’re excited to see how the sessions develop as interest and demand grows.
Ken’s Story
One of the participants in our Team Mum male partner sessions, Ken, shared more on the positive impact they are having on his community.
When Jacob Chege arrived in Meru, Team Dad sessions started! Both the Team Mum and Team Dad groups have been of great benefit to us in Meru. Before we had problems with roads, so when women wanted to give birth it was a problem, even getting boda-bodas or vehicles to take women to clinics.
Through the Team Dad sessions, we found out about the support Team Mum offers, including information about the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), an initiative that helps when mothers go to give birth by catering for all her costs. We were also told of the importance of hospital deliveries and were given up-to-date information on the nearest hospitals and clinics for delivery.
We also learned the importance of sharing and communicating with your partner: you should enjoy and want to understand your partner during pregnancy!
In my opinion, it is good to have planned times to meet as men. When we meet up, we teach each other, we engage in dialogue about what we think is okay and what happens in our communities. With the support of Team Dad, we can then see what areas we need teaching about, learn and be empowered.
If you have any further questions about our Team Mum project, please contact hello@child.org.