title: Married men's first time experiences of early childbearing and their role in sexual and reproductive decision making: a qualitative study from rural Vietnam.
abstract: Male partners' involvement in women's sexual and reproductive health has been increasingly emphasised in international health. A qualitative approach with open-ended qualitative interviews was used to explore young, married men's first time experiences of early childbearing, their sexual and reproductive decision making and the meanings they make of their role as husbands and fathers. The results offer a nuanced picture of the men's vulnerability in becoming young fathers and having to assume their role as family decision-makers, while still being inexperienced in matters related to the health of their wives and newborn child. Constraints to gender equality and traditional norms and values continue to pose barriers to both young men and women making independent decisions in relation to marriage and childbearing. Men's involvement is necessary in healthcare programmes designed to improve women's sexual and reproductive health and the health of the newborn. Young, first-time fathers, in particular, need support and empowerment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. mkl@du.se
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klingberg-Allvin
authors.forename: Vanja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.forename: Nguyen Thanh
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Binh
authors.forename: Bharati
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bijay
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johansson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D003657:Decision Making; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D014744:Vietnam; D055815:Young Adult