Attitudes of Expectant Women Towards Male Midwives: a Case Study of Kajiado North Constituency, Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

This study assessed the attitudes of expectant women towards male midwives in Kajiado North Constituency of Kajiado County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to investigate the attitudes of expectant women towards male midwives and to determine factors that affect the acceptance of male midwives. The study collected data from fifty expectant women attending antenatal care clinic in Ongata Rongai and Olkeri Wards of Kajiado North Constituency through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The study findings indicate that the attitudes of expectant women towards male midwives are varied. Age, marital status, level of education and culture were found to affect the acceptability of male midwives. The partners of expectant women and the intimate nature of midwifery also have an impact on the uptake of services provided by male midwives. The study, therefore, concludes that despite the fact that the idea of men in midwifery is not unanimously agreed upon, proper education and training, public sensitizations as well as ensuring that expectant women’s right to select the sex of a midwife is upheld will essentially ensure that the idea of men in midwifery becomes more acceptable. Based on this conclusion, the study recommends that: one, more female midwives should be deployed in rural areas where they are preferred. This may reduce the number of home deliveries due to fear by expectant mothers of being seen by a male mid wife who is not their husband. Two, female midwives should always accompany male midwives when examinations of an intimate nature needs to be conducted on expectant women during pregnancy and childbirth. Three, awareness campaigns to sensitize expectant mothers as well as their partners on existence of male midwives should be conducted to improve their acceptability in the labour wards. Four, more studies be conducted on the acceptance of males in midwifery in rural and marginalized areas as there is little research in this area.