PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Daniella Watson AU - Samuel Chatio AU - Mary Barker AU - Palwende Romuald Boua AU - Adélaïde Compaoré AU - Maxwell Dalaba AU - Agnes Erzse AU - Keith Godfrey AU - Karen Hofman AU - Sarah Kehoe AU - Nuala McGrath AU - Gudani Mukoma AU - Engelbert A Nonterah AU - Shane A Norris AU - Hermann Sorgho AU - Kate A Ward AU - Polly Hardy-Johnson ED - , TI - Men’s motivations, barriers to and aspirations for their families’ health in the first 1000 days in sub-Saharan Africa: a secondary qualitative analysis AID - 10.1136/bmjnph-2022-000423 DP - 2023 Jan 17 TA - BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health PG - e000423 4099 - http://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2023/01/24/bmjnph-2022-000423.short 4100 - http://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2023/01/24/bmjnph-2022-000423.full AB - Introduction The first 1000 days of life are a critical period of growth and development that have lasting implications for health, cognitive, educational and economic outcomes. In sub-Saharan Africa, gender and social norms are such that many men have little engagement with maternal and child health and nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood. This study explores how men perceive their role in three sites in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods Secondary qualitative analysis of 10 focus group discussions with 76 men in Burkina Faso, Ghana and South Africa. Data were thematically analysed to explore men’s perceptions of maternal and child health and nutrition.Results Men considered themselves ‘providers’ and 'advisors' within their families, particularly of finances, food and medicines. They also indicated that this advice was out of care and concern for their families’ health. There were similarities in how the men perceive their role. Differences between men living in rural and urban settings included health priorities, the advice and the manner in which it was provided. Across all settings, men wanted to be more involved with maternal and child health and nutrition. Challenges to doing so included stigma and proscribed social gender roles.Conclusion Men want a greater engagement in improving maternal and child health and nutrition but felt that their ability to do so was limited by culture-specified gender roles, which are more focused on providing for and advising their families. Involving both men and women in intervention development alongside policymakers, health professionals and researchers is needed to improve maternal and child health and nutrition.Data are available in a public, open access repository. Data are available upon reasonable request. Secondary data, but can be available on request.