title: Male partners' views of involvement in maternal healthcare services at Makhado Municipality clinics, Limpopo Province, South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Male partners have a strong influence on pregnant partners' health and their access to care. Their involvement is critical in the delivery and uptake of maternal healthcare services and improving maternal and child health outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study sought to determine male partners' views on their involvement in maternal healthcare services.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Makhado Municipality's Kutama, Madombidzha and Vleifontein clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study design, which is exploratory, descriptive and contextual in nature, was used. The population comprised 15 men whose partners had been pregnant within the last 2 years. A non-probability, purposive sampling procedure was used. Data were collected via in-depth individual interviews using a voice recorder and an interview schedule guide. Tesch's open coding method was used to analyse data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings revealed one major theme, namely that maternal health issues are viewed as a woman'sdomain; and three sub-themes: culture and participation in childbirth, male partners' employment status, and male partners' unwillingness to participate in maternal health issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The involvement of male partners in maternal healthcare services, and further research in promoting this activity, should be proposed to policymakers.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nesane
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Nursing, University of Venda, Thohoyandou. sonto.maputle@univen.ac.za.
authors.forename: Sonto M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Maputle
authors.forename: Hilda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shilubane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013019:South Africa; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Views; antenatal care; involvement; labour and postnatal care.; maternal health care services; partners