(Mis)measuring men’s involvement in global health: the case of expectant fathers in Dakar, Senegal

BACKGROUND: In 2018, USAID published a report based on Demographic and Health Surveys data on the relationship between men’s involvement and women and children’s health outcomes. Using a flawed operationalization of “men’s involvement,” USAID’s analysis implies that Senegalese men are not involved in women and children’s health. METHODS: The findings of this study come from 12 months of ethnographic research in Dakar, Senegal that examined the roles and responsibilities of expectant fathers. Research participants included 32 pregnant women and 27 expectant partners recruited from three maternity wards. Research methods included long-term, immersive participant observation and semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: Pregnant women in Senegal are surrounded by a kin-based network of care providers called the entourage who share responsibilities for support. Expectant fathers, as members of the entourage, are expected to provide financial and emotional support, while other members of the entourage are expected to undertake the responsibilities which USAID have designated as “men’s involvement.” Men typically do not undertake additional forms of care and support because they are considered “women’s business,” meaning that women actively discourage men from doing those things, in order to preserve women’s autonomy. CONCLUSION: This research demonstrates that expectant fathers are involved in antenatal care in ways that USAID does not track through DHS. Further, I argue that USAID’s heterosexist, monogamous, and nuclear operationalization of “men’s involvement” aligns with a long history of Eurocentrism in development discourse which may be potentially harmful and obstructive to improving maternal and child health when the problem that is targeted is not a problem at all. This study is yet another case that demonstrates an urgent need of public and global health engagement with local stakeholders and ethnographic researchers. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-05093-0.