Changing times? Gender roles and relationships in maternal, newborn and child health in Malawi

The recommendation from the research paper “Changing times? Gender roles and relationships in maternal, newborn and child health in Malawi” is to create gender-inclusive programs and spaces that aim to reduce barriers to male involvement in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services. This recommendation is based on the finding that traditional gender roles and socio-cultural views on maternal health present challenges to male involvement in MNCH programs.

To improve access to maternal health in Malawi, it is suggested that health care provider initiatives should be sensitive and mindful of gender roles and relations. This can be achieved by designing programs and spaces that welcome men as full partners in the overall goals for improving maternal, neonatal, and child health outcomes. By creating an enabling environment that supports male involvement, such as through policy changes, community and health care provider initiatives, and NGO initiatives, more men can be encouraged to participate in MNCH services.

The research paper used a mixed method convergent research design within a transformative paradigm to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The qualitative data collected in two districts in Malawi (Mchinji and Nkhotakota) was used to explore the role and involvement of men across the MNCH continuum of care and understand the community systems barriers and enablers to male involvement in promoting MNCH.


1. Designing gender-inclusive programs: Develop programs that aim to reduce barriers to male involvement in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services. This could include creating awareness campaigns, educational materials, and community outreach initiatives that specifically target men and promote their active participation in MNCH.

2. Policy changes: Advocate for policy changes that support and encourage male involvement in MNCH. This could involve working with government officials and policymakers to develop and implement policies that prioritize gender inclusivity in healthcare services and provide incentives for men to participate in MNCH programs.

3. Community and healthcare provider initiatives: Collaborate with local communities and healthcare providers to implement initiatives that create an enabling environment for male involvement. This could include training healthcare providers on gender sensitivity and promoting cultural competency, as well as engaging community leaders and influencers to support and encourage male participation in MNCH services.

4. NGO initiatives: Partner with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to implement programs and interventions that specifically target male involvement in MNCH. NGOs can play a crucial role in providing resources, support, and expertise to facilitate the implementation of gender-inclusive programs and initiatives.

5. Monitoring and evaluation: Establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the impact of these interventions on improving access to maternal health. This could involve collecting quantitative data on the number of men accessing MNCH services, as well as qualitative data to understand their experiences and perceptions. Regular monitoring and evaluation will help identify areas for improvement and guide future interventions.

By implementing these steps, it is expected that there will be an increase in male involvement in MNCH services in Malawi, leading to improved access to maternal health. This methodology aligns with the research paper’s recommendation to create gender-inclusive programs and spaces that aim to reduce barriers to male involvement in MNCH services.

Please note that this is a hypothetical methodology based on the information provided in the abstract. The actual implementation would require further planning, coordination, and adaptation to the specific context and resources available in Malawi.