'My wife, you are supposed to have a rest now' : an analysis of norms influencing men's role in prenatal care in south-eastern Tanzania

Men as sexual partners, fathers and household heads have a direct bearing on women'sreproductive health. However, little is known about the influence of changing normsand values on men's role in ensuring women's health during pregnancy and childbirth.This study from rural south-eastern Tanzania explores men's and women's discussionson men's roles and responsibilities in prenatal care and links them to an analysis ofnorms and values at the household level and beyond. Data from eight focus group discussionswith men and women were consensually coded and analysed using a qualitativecontent analysis. Four dimensions of norms and values, which emerged fromanalysis, bear upon men's support towards pregnant women: changing gender identities;changing family and marriage structures; biomedical values disseminated inhealth education; and government regulations. The findings suggest that Tanzanianmen are exposed to a contradictory and changing landscape of norms and values in relationto maternal health.