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Men's influences on women's reproductive health: medical anthropological perspectives

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  • Dudgeon, Matthew R.
  • Inhorn, Marcia C.

Abstract

Reproductive health has emerged as an organizational framework that incorporates men into maternal and child health (MCH) programs. For several decades, medical anthropologists have conducted reproductive health research that explores male partners' effects on women's health and the health of children. This article summarizes exemplary research in this area, showing how ethnographic studies by medical anthropologists contribute new insights to the growing public health and demographic literature on men and reproductive health. The first half of the article begins by exploring reproductive rights, examining the concept from an anthropological perspective. As part of this discussion, the question of equality versus equity is addressed, introducing anthropological perspectives on ways to incorporate men fairly into reproductive health programs and policies. The second half of the article then turns to a number of salient examples of men's relevance in the areas of contraception, abortion, pregnancy and childbirth, infertility, and fetal harm. Medical anthropological research--as well as prominent gaps in that research--is highlighted. The article concludes with thoughts on future areas of anthropological research that may improve understandings of men's influences on women's reproductive health.

Suggested Citation

  • Dudgeon, Matthew R. & Inhorn, Marcia C., 2004. "Men's influences on women's reproductive health: medical anthropological perspectives," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(7), pages 1379-1395, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:59:y:2004:i:7:p:1379-1395
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    Cited by:

    1. Samb, Oumar Mallé & Ridde, Valery, 2018. "The impact of free healthcare on women's capability: A qualitative study in rural Burkina Faso," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 9-16.
    2. García-Calvente, Mar & Marcos-Marcos, Jorge & del Río-Lozano, María & Hidalgo-Ruzzante, Natalia & Maroto-Navarro, Gracia, 2012. "Embedded gender and social changes underpinning inequalities in health: An ethnographic insight into a local Spanish context," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2225-2232.
    3. Hough, Carolyn A., 2010. "Loss in childbearing among Gambia's kanyalengs: Using a stratified reproduction framework to expand the scope of sexual and reproductive health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(10), pages 1757-1763, November.
    4. Kyi Mar Wai & Akira Shibanuma & Nwe Nwe Oo & Toki Jennifer Fillman & Yu Mon Saw & Masamine Jimba, 2015. "Are Husbands Involving in Their Spouses’ Utilization of Maternal Care Services?: A Cross-Sectional Study in Yangon, Myanmar," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Thapa, Deependra Kaji & Niehof, Anke, 2013. "Women's autonomy and husbands' involvement in maternal health care in Nepal," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 1-10.
    6. Laura K. Merrell & Sarah R. Blackstone, 2020. "Women’s Empowerment as a Mitigating Factor for Improved Antenatal Care Quality despite Impact of 2014 Ebola Outbreak in Guinea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-18, November.
    7. Mullany, Britta C., 2006. "Barriers to and attitudes towards promoting husbands' involvement in maternal health in Katmandu, Nepal," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(11), pages 2798-2809, June.
    8. Vanderlinden, Lisa K., 2009. "German genes and Turkish traits: Ethnicity, infertility, and reproductive politics in Germany," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 266-273, July.
    9. Teixeira, Maria & Guillaume, Agnès & Ferrand, Michèle & Adjamabgo, Agnès & Bajos, Nathalie, 2012. "Representations and uses of emergency contraception in West Africa. A social anthropological reading of a northern medicinal product," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 148-155.
    10. Atif Ikram Butt, 2014. "A Theoretical Framework for Engaging with Religion in Development Projects," Journal of Developing Societies, , vol. 30(3), pages 323-341, September.
    11. Mullany, Britta C. & Hindin, Michelle J. & Becker, Stan, 2005. "Can women's autonomy impede male involvement in pregnancy health in Katmandu, Nepal?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(9), pages 1993-2006, November.
    12. Rebecca Perkins & Pooja Mehta & Sarah Langrish, 2012. "Fathers’ intentions to accept human papillomavirus vaccination for sons and daughters: exploratory findings from rural Honduras," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 57(1), pages 143-148, February.
    13. Powis, Richard & Bunkley, Emma N., 2023. "Handbooks and health interpreters: How men are assets for their pregnant partners in Senegal," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    14. McLean, Kristen E., 2020. "Men's experiences of pregnancy and childbirth in Sierra Leone: Reexamining definitions of “male partner involvement”," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    15. Martin Amogre Ayanore & Milena Pavlova & Regien Biesma & Wim Groot, 2017. "Stakeholder's experiences, expectations and decision making on reproductive care: An ethnographic study of three districts in northern Ghana," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(11), pages 1-21, November.

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