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Maternal and Child Well-being Programmes’ factors as determinants of male-partners’ level of participation in the programmes in Kiambu County, Kenya

International development platforms and commitments have expressed the need for male-partner participation in Maternal and Child Wellbeing (MCW) programmes pointing to the beneficial effects of their participation. Men have a clear role in decision making regarding their families’ reproductive health, however their participation has remained low especially in SubSaharan Africa. Many factors could be implied for their low level of participation some of which are related to the programme policies and their implementation. In Kiambu County, Kenya, where this study was carried out, a low (3%) male partner level of participation in maternal and child well-being programmes (Kiambu County Strategic Plan for 2008-2012) was identified as a challenge to successful implementation of the programmes. There was no earlier study on factors that could be implied for the low male participation. This study sought to determine if there existed a significant relationship between the current maternal and child well-being programmes and the male partners’ level of participation in the programmes in the County. To achieve this objective a cross-sectional analytical study involving 142 males partners to women consuming the MCW services at level four and level five health facilities in Kiambu County, Kenya, was conducted between February 2016 and May 2016. A male partner’s level of participation index was used to determine high and low levels of participation in the programmes. The study collected primary and secondary data which were both qualitative and quantitative. Descriptive as well as empirical analytical techniques were used to test for significance of the relationship between MCW programmes and the male partners’ level of participation. The findings of the study revealed a negative and significant relationship between the predictor variable (current maternal and child well-being programmes) and the outcome variable (level of male partner participation in the programmes). The study found that malepartners who had a negative perception towards the current maternal and child well-being programme policies and how they are implemented registered a lower level of participation compared to those who had a positive perception. The findings are important in guiding policy formulation in coming up with programmes that are male friendly. This may be done through involving male partners as key stakeholders during policy formulation in order to incorporate their special reproductive health needs. This participatory approach may be expected to improve communication and decision-making processes leading to coming up with male friendly maternal and child well-being programmes. This approach may in the long run lead to increased male partner participation in the programmes and the subsequent improved consumption of the services and higher retention in the programmes of their female partners and infants. This may lead to reduction of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates in Kiambu County as well as the National rates. This will be a positive step to achieving the social goal in Kenya’s Vision 2030 by shifting health care services from curative to preventive. This may also support a more economically productive female population and healthy infants. It will be a step towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 on achieving Good Health and Well-being.