title: Husbands' experiences and perceptions regarding the use of maternity waiting homes in rural Zambia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore men's experience and beliefs regarding the use of maternity waiting homes (MWHs) in Kalomo District, Zambia.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a qualitative study, in-depth interviews with the husbands/partners of women attending the under-five clinic at a health center with a MWH were conducted between April 1 and May 31, 2014. Men aged 18-50 years whose partner/wife was of reproductive age and who had lived in the area for more than 6 months were eligible for inclusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 24 husbands/partners were interviewed in seven rural health centers. Men perceived many potential benefits of MWHs, including improved access to facility-based skilled delivery services and treatment in case of labor complications. Their many roles included decision making and securing funds for transport, food, cleaning materials, and clothes for the mother and the neonate to use during and after labor. However, limited financial resources made it difficult for them to provide for their wives and newborns, and usually led to delays in their decisions about MWH use. Poor conditions in MWHs and the lack of basic social and healthcare needs meant some men had forbidden their wives/partners from using the facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Important intervention targets for improving access to MWHs and skilled birth attendance have been identified.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Monze District Medical Office, Monze, Zambia; Maastricht University, Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht, Netherlands. Electronic address: cephas.sialubanje@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Cephas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sialubanje
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University, Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Karlijn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Massar
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Science, Department of Global Health, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elisa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kirch
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Science, Department of Global Health, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marit S G
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: van der Pijl
authors.affiliation: Zambia Centre for Applied Health Research and Development, Lusaka, Zambia; Centre for Global Health and Development, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Davidson H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University, Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert A C
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ruiter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D012112:Residential Facilities; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012424:Rural Population; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult; D015024:Zambia
keywords: Husbands; Kalomo; Maternal health; Maternity waiting home; Use of healthcare services; Zambia