Men’s Knowledge and Practices of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health in Rural Bangladesh: Do they differ from Women?

Male partner involvement in maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) care has been around for a long time but nothing has been done since nobody has figured out how to do it on a large scale. We assessed men’s knowledge and their awareness of their wives’ actual practices regarding MNCH care issues. The study was conducted in four ‘improving maternal, neonatal and child survival’ (IMNCS) intervention districts (Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha and Mymensingh) of BRAC and two control districts (Naogaon and Netrokona) during October 2008-January 2009. Data were collected from 7,200 men whose wives had experienced a pregnancy outcome in the preceding year of the survey or who had live child aged 12-59 months. Chi-squared tests and t-tests were performed for comparing grouped districts and Cohen’s Kappa was used to assess the level of agreement between men and women regarding MNCH practices and decision-making.