Promoting husbands’ participation in birth preparedness and complication readiness in The Gambia: Implications for gender transformation

This study assessed the gender-transformative implications of a training aimed at transforming gender norms and promoting husbands' involvement in birth preparedness and complication readiness in The Gambia. The study used an observational quantitative evaluation design, beginning with a pre-training assessment of 100 husbands and a post-training assessment of 96 husbands who participated in the training. It also incorporated a qualitative component comprising 12 interviews with the pregnant wives of husbands who participated in the training. The results indicated that husbands reported an increased understanding of pregnancy and childbirth due to the training. As a result, 73% reported accompanying their wives for skilled birth attendance and 60% reported saving money for potential delivery-related complications. Pregnant women have also reported improved communication with their husbands. However, sustaining these changes may require broader socioeconomic considerations. These insights, along with observations and reflections from training sessions, provide valuable lessons for organizations implementing similar programs.