ABSTRACT

Maternal health has been a public health concern as the world continues to experience high rates of maternal mortality. Gender dynamics, that is, the way men and women socialize has been one of the factors that influence the health of pregnant women. The purpose of the study was to explore gender dynamics, as determinants of maternal health among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Thyolo District Hospital, Malawi. The objectives of the study were to identify the social norms, to determine the perceived division of domestic labour, to determine gender (domestic) based violence affecting health of pregnant women and to ascertain partner/husband participation in the health care of pregnant women. The study was qualitative design by phenomenological approach and used an in-depth interview guide and a voice recorder for data collection. Ten pregnant women were selected by purposive sample technique to take part in the interviews in local language later transcribed and translated into English. The data were analyzed by thematic approach using Atlas ti version 9.1. The results showed that almost all pregnant women reported that there was an assistance in the following; transport arrangement to hospital whenever sick or when labour starts, in household chores and support in terms of material, food, money and escorting them to antenatal clinic, while few reported to have less or no assistance at all. However, some pregnant women reported to have experienced physical and psychological abuse and hard domestic labour, but all pregnant women reported no sexual abuse. In conclusion, based on the findings, the following recommendations were made to address this concern. There is need to intensify health education among couples and men by reproductive health nurses at facility and community level. Government of Malawi in collaboration with stakeholders, to conduct campaign awareness in order to reduce the existence of gender dynamics as determinants of maternal health among pregnant women.