ABSTRACT
Studies have consistently shown that maternal processes in Africa are
prone to crises as a result of multiple socio-economic and religious factors.
A combination of male-domination, low status of women, poverty, cultural
beliefs and practices and high fertility affects pregnancy outcomes in most
societies in the continent and especially in sub-Saharan Africa. With very
few exceptions, African communities are patriarchal and as such norms,
values and expectations are defined and sustained by men in virtually all
spheres of life. This paper, which focuses on the Ibani of Rivers State,
Nigeria, examines the role of African men during maternal periods to
establish that pregnancy outcomes will improve significantly when women
are supported by their spouses at different stages of maternity. The study
reveals that men do not play roles during pregnancy-postpartum processes
that are significantly different from their normal activities because
pregnancy is perceived as a normal condition, which does not require
special attention. The results also indicate that pregnancy outcomes among
the Ibani do not necessarily derive from spousal communication and
gender discourse because 87.7 percent of women whose husbands were
solely responsible for decisions on child spacing recorded more Type-1
outcome (mother and child survival) than those whose husbands did not.
By adapting the present investigation to the systemic approach, a holistic
analysis of a complex phenomenon like maternal outcomes was
undertaken.
Keywords: maternal processes, pregnancy outcomes, patriarchy, systemic
approach.
Nwokocha, E (2021). Maternal Crises and the Role of African Men: The case of a Nigerian Community. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/maternal-crises-and-the-role-of-african-men-the-case-of-a-nigerian-community
Nwokocha, Ezebunwa "Maternal Crises and the Role of African Men: The case of a Nigerian Community" Afribary. Afribary, 22 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/maternal-crises-and-the-role-of-african-men-the-case-of-a-nigerian-community. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Nwokocha, Ezebunwa . "Maternal Crises and the Role of African Men: The case of a Nigerian Community". Afribary, Afribary, 22 Apr. 2021. Web. 18 Dec. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/maternal-crises-and-the-role-of-african-men-the-case-of-a-nigerian-community >.
Nwokocha, Ezebunwa . "Maternal Crises and the Role of African Men: The case of a Nigerian Community" Afribary (2021). Accessed December 18, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/maternal-crises-and-the-role-of-african-men-the-case-of-a-nigerian-community