Father involvement in neonatal and childcare activities in Kinshasa, DRC: Exploring the role of gender roles and social norms
Summary:
The benefits of engaging men as partners in childrearing are tremendous. Studies have shown that father involvement is positively associated with the psychological well-being, and social and cognitive development of children. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between gender norms, social norms regarding fatherhood, and men's willingness to be involved in routine childcare activities. The analysis was based on 1,766 male partners of first-time mothers ages 15-24 who were interviewed during the 2018 baseline survey of the MOMENTUM project in Kinshasa. We used bivariate and ordinal logistic regressions to investigate the relationship between male partners' willingness to participate in routine childcare, and attitude, personal agency and perceived norms regarding these activities, while adjusting for control variables. Most male partners (72%) were extremely willing to take the child to the doctor but only a third were extremely willing to wash the baby's clothes, cook food, and clean the house, Male partners with low, moderate and high willingness endorsed 0-5, 6-13 and 14-16 activities, respectively. After controlling for background characteristics, personal belief, perceived community belief, key influencers' approval, self-efficacy, perceived power and descriptive norms were significantly associated with a high level of willingness. Additionally, higher education, being employed and having a higher relationship satisfaction score were associated with high willingness. The findings draw attention to the importance of the community, social norms, father's social networks, and self-efficacy. Interventions aimed at increasing male engagement in childcare should address these factors.
Background/Objectives:
There is growing recognition of the importance of including men in maternal and neonatal health (MNH) programs for the benefit of the child, the mother and men themselves.1,2,3 In developed countries, studies have shown that father involvement is positively associated with the psychological well-being, and social and cognitive development of children.46 However, research in developing countries has focused on male involvement during pregnancy. This study contributes to the literature by examining the association between gender norms, social norms regarding paternal involvement in routine childcare activities (RCAs) for children under 12 months, and men's willingness to be involved in RCAs.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
The study used data from the baseline study of the MOMENTUM project: a two-year gender-transformative integrated family planning, MNH, and nutrition intervention in Kinshasa. Our analysis consisted of 1,766 male partners of first-time mothers ages 15-24. The dependent variable was the level of willingness (low, moderate, high) to participate in 16 RCAs. Independent variables derived from the Integrated Behavioral Model focused on paternal involvement in RCAs. Variables included: personal agency, self-efficacy, personal belief, perceived community belief, and injunctive and descriptive norms. Attitude towards gender norms was measured using the Gender Equitable Men's scale and the Gender Relation's power sub-scale. Significance in the bivariate analysis was determined using Pearson's Chi-Square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Ordinal logistic regressions were performed to estimate the associations of interest, while controlling for background characteristics. Our level of significance was set at p< 0.05 and analysis were performed using STATA(v.15).
Results/Lessons Learned:
Approximately one-third of respondents were age 15-24, over two-fifths had a secondary education, and over three-fourths were partnered, employed and had no children. Most were extremely willing to take the child to the doctor (72%). Approximately one-third were extremely willing to wash the baby's clothes, cook food, and clean the house. Respondents with low, moderate and high willingness endorsed 0-5, 6-13 and 14-16 activities, respectively. Having a higher education, being employed and having a higher relationship satisfaction score were associated with high willingness. After adjusting for control variables, personal belief (aOR-1.06), perceived community belief (aOR-1.07), key influencers' approval (aOR-1.10), self-efficacy (aOR-1.05) and perceived power (aOR-1.18) were significantly associated with high willingness. Respondents who believed that over half of fathers participate in RCAs had 1.84 times odds of having high willingness than those who reported none participate.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
Findings call for social norm interventions that address men's personal and perceived community beliefs of the appropriateness of father's participation in RCAs. Future research should examine the extent to which male partners' willingness translates into actual participation in RCAs and the extent to which this is context-specific. Interventions aimed at increasing male engagement in childcare should aim to change the way communities see men as fathers and how men perceive themselves as fathers.
Abstract submitted by:
Francine Wood - Tulane University
Anastasia Gage - Tulane University
The benefits of engaging men as partners in childrearing are tremendous. Studies have shown that father involvement is positively associated with the psychological well-being, and social and cognitive development of children. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between gender norms, social norms regarding fatherhood, and men's willingness to be involved in routine childcare activities. The analysis was based on 1,766 male partners of first-time mothers ages 15-24 who were interviewed during the 2018 baseline survey of the MOMENTUM project in Kinshasa. We used bivariate and ordinal logistic regressions to investigate the relationship between male partners' willingness to participate in routine childcare, and attitude, personal agency and perceived norms regarding these activities, while adjusting for control variables. Most male partners (72%) were extremely willing to take the child to the doctor but only a third were extremely willing to wash the baby's clothes, cook food, and clean the house, Male partners with low, moderate and high willingness endorsed 0-5, 6-13 and 14-16 activities, respectively. After controlling for background characteristics, personal belief, perceived community belief, key influencers' approval, self-efficacy, perceived power and descriptive norms were significantly associated with a high level of willingness. Additionally, higher education, being employed and having a higher relationship satisfaction score were associated with high willingness. The findings draw attention to the importance of the community, social norms, father's social networks, and self-efficacy. Interventions aimed at increasing male engagement in childcare should address these factors.
Background/Objectives:
There is growing recognition of the importance of including men in maternal and neonatal health (MNH) programs for the benefit of the child, the mother and men themselves.1,2,3 In developed countries, studies have shown that father involvement is positively associated with the psychological well-being, and social and cognitive development of children.46 However, research in developing countries has focused on male involvement during pregnancy. This study contributes to the literature by examining the association between gender norms, social norms regarding paternal involvement in routine childcare activities (RCAs) for children under 12 months, and men's willingness to be involved in RCAs.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
The study used data from the baseline study of the MOMENTUM project: a two-year gender-transformative integrated family planning, MNH, and nutrition intervention in Kinshasa. Our analysis consisted of 1,766 male partners of first-time mothers ages 15-24. The dependent variable was the level of willingness (low, moderate, high) to participate in 16 RCAs. Independent variables derived from the Integrated Behavioral Model focused on paternal involvement in RCAs. Variables included: personal agency, self-efficacy, personal belief, perceived community belief, and injunctive and descriptive norms. Attitude towards gender norms was measured using the Gender Equitable Men's scale and the Gender Relation's power sub-scale. Significance in the bivariate analysis was determined using Pearson's Chi-Square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Ordinal logistic regressions were performed to estimate the associations of interest, while controlling for background characteristics. Our level of significance was set at p< 0.05 and analysis were performed using STATA(v.15).
Results/Lessons Learned:
Approximately one-third of respondents were age 15-24, over two-fifths had a secondary education, and over three-fourths were partnered, employed and had no children. Most were extremely willing to take the child to the doctor (72%). Approximately one-third were extremely willing to wash the baby's clothes, cook food, and clean the house. Respondents with low, moderate and high willingness endorsed 0-5, 6-13 and 14-16 activities, respectively. Having a higher education, being employed and having a higher relationship satisfaction score were associated with high willingness. After adjusting for control variables, personal belief (aOR-1.06), perceived community belief (aOR-1.07), key influencers' approval (aOR-1.10), self-efficacy (aOR-1.05) and perceived power (aOR-1.18) were significantly associated with high willingness. Respondents who believed that over half of fathers participate in RCAs had 1.84 times odds of having high willingness than those who reported none participate.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
Findings call for social norm interventions that address men's personal and perceived community beliefs of the appropriateness of father's participation in RCAs. Future research should examine the extent to which male partners' willingness translates into actual participation in RCAs and the extent to which this is context-specific. Interventions aimed at increasing male engagement in childcare should aim to change the way communities see men as fathers and how men perceive themselves as fathers.
Abstract submitted by:
Francine Wood - Tulane University
Anastasia Gage - Tulane University
Source
Approved abstract for the postponed 2020 SBCC Summit in Marrakech, Morocco. Provided by the International Steering Committee for the Summit. Image credit: Endre Vestvik via Flickr