GENDER ATTITUDES AND MALE INVOLVEMENT IN MATERNAL NUTRITION AND HEALTH CARE AMONG RURAL DWELLERS IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Recently, there has been increasing recognition of the importance of male involvement
in improving maternal nutrition and healthcare. However, studies have shown that cultural gender roles
always limit the involvement of men in areas that are socially defined as feminine. Hence, this study
investigated the importance of male involvement, their level of involvement and gender factors that
limit male involvement in maternal nutrition and healthcare in rural Imo State. The gender schema
theory propounded by Sandra Bem was the study’s theoretical framework. A mixed research design and
multistage sampling method were used for this study. For the quantitative data, 591 questionnaires were
administered and analysed via descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas 18 in-depth interviews were
conducted for the qualitative data and analysed via the content analysis method. It was found that men
are involved in maternal nutrition and healthcare in Imo State. However, the level of involvement is
low, and the reasons are not farfetched, as cultural gender roles have been identified as major factors
that undermine male involvement in maternal nutrition and healthcare. To improve male involvement
in maternal nutrition and healthcare, cultural gender roles that negatively affect male involvement in
maternal nutrition and healthcare need to be addressed. Therefore, men should be sensitized to the need
to jettison those cultural gender role prescriptions and see their involvement as significantly important
in improving maternal nutrition and healthcare in Imo State.