As a man I felt small’

The effects of obstetric fistula surpass the individual woman and affect husbands, relatives, peers and the community at large. Few studies have documented the experiences of men who live with wives suffering from fistula. In this study, our objective was to understand how fistula affects these men's lives. We conducted 16 in-depth interviews with men in central and western Uganda. We used thematic narrative analysis and discuss our findings based on Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity. Findings show that the men's experiences conflicted with Ugandan norms of hegemonic masculinity. However, men had to find other ways of explaining their identity, such as portraying themselves as small men but still be responsible, caring husbands and fathers. The few individuals who married a second wife remained married to the wife with the fistula. These men viewed marriage as a lifetime promise before God and a responsibility that should not end because of a fistula. Poverty, love, care for children and social norms in a patriarchal society compelled the men to persevere in their relationship amidst many challenges

Hegemonic masculinity · Hegemony · Masculinity · Narrative · Political science · Poverty · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Wife · Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues · Gender Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Ureteral procedures and complications

• The social, economic, emotional, and physical experiences of caregivers for women with female genital fistula in Uganda

  Open Access•Alison M El Ayadi, Ashley Mitchell et al.•Global Public Health•2023

  Incluir item

• The effect of becoming a Fistula Advocate on the recovery of women with Obstetric Fistula in Sierra Leone

  Open Access•Zoe Vowles, Regina Bash-Taqi et al.•PLOS Global Public Health•2023

  Incluir item

• Intimate relationships and Suicidal Behaviour of Men in Bangladesh

  Azizur Rahman Khan, Najuwa Arendse et al.•Mortality•2023

  Incluir item

• Male Participation in Family Planning

  Open Access•Angela Kaida, Walter Kipp et al.•Journal of Biosocial Science•2005

  Incluir item

• Understanding Men's Health and Illness

  Toni Schofield, R Connell et al.•Journal of American College Health•2000

  Incluir item

• The Wounded Storyteller

  A W Frank•Wounded Storyteller•1995

  Incluir item

• Hegemonic Masculinity

  Robert Morrell, Rachel Jewkes et al.•Society in Transition•2013

  Incluir item

• Qualitative methods for health research

  John Green, Nicki Thorogood•Choice Reviews Online•2009

  Incluir item

• InterViews

  Open Access•David J Flinders•Evaluation and Program Planning•1997

  Incluir item

• Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences

  Open Access•Beverly D Metcalfe•Gender in Management An…•2008

  Incluir item

• The lived experience of Malawian women with obstetric fistula

  Marissa Pine Yeakey, Effie Chipeta et al.•Culture Health & Sexuality•2009

  Incluir item

• Quality of life of Ethiopian women after fistula repair

  Kyla Donnelly, Kyla Z Donnelly et al.•Culture Health & Sexuality•2015

  Incluir item

• Changing Women and Avoiding Men Gender Stereotypes and Reproductive Health Programmes

  Open Access•Margaret E Greene•IDS Bulletin•2000

  Incluir item

• Constructions of masculinity and their influence on men's well-being

  Open Access•Will H Courtenay, Will Courtenay•Social Science & Medicine•2000

  Incluir item

• Gender, health and theory

  Open Access•R Connell•Social Science & Medicine•2012

  Incluir item

• Low Use of Rural Maternity Services in Uganda

  Open Access•Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo•Reproductive Health Matters•2003

  Incluir item

• Hegemonic Masculinity

  Open Access•R Connell, R W Connell et al.•Gender & Society•2005

  Incluir item