Caring Men: Husbands' Involvement in the Maternal Care of Their Adolescent Wives in Rural India

Alka Barua, Foundation for Research in Health Systems (FRHS)
Rohini P. Pande, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)
Sunayana Walia, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)
Kerry MacQuarrie, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)

Whereas much literature describes men’s involvement in family planning among adults, this paper examines men’s involvement in the maternal care among young couples in Maharashtra, India. Data come from a 2001 quantitative survey of 972 couples and 207 in-depth interviews conducted in 1996-1998. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis, we explore men’s knowledge, sense of responsibility, and actual participation in the prenatal, delivery, and post-natal care of their young wives, including characteristics associated with participation. Participation is analyzed separately for routine care and treatment of complications. Qualitative data describe the family structures and cultural context surrounding health-seeking. Our analysis shows most husbands are knowledgeable about pregnancy-associated care; believe that problems during this period should be treated; and feel responsible for paying for care or accompanying their wives to clinics. Nonetheless, husbands tend to not accompany their wives for routine care (but do for treating complications), though they do pay for it.