biostudies-literatureMusiwa ASSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canadae085901https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11404166biostudies-literatureUnknown14(9)<h4>Introduction</h4>Men's participation is imperative for improving antenatal care (ANC) access and mother and child health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Research looking at improving men's participation in ANC often focuses on their instrumental and psychosocial roles and on biomedical ANC systems. There is limited understanding of how context-specific cultural experiences of fatherhood influence men's participation in ANC within broader communal support networks and across different ANC systems in SSA. Against this background, and to understand how local communities in SSA conceive men's participation in ANC, a scoping review will be undertaken to synthesise existing literature around local cultural experiences of fatherhood and men's participation in ANC in rural settings in SSBMJ openFatherhood and men's participation in antenatal care in rural sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol.PMC11404166BPF-186523Mavhu WCouban RNyamwanza OMusiwa ASMbuagbaw LChadambuka EfalseFatherhood and men's participation in antenatal care in rural sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol.<h4>Introduction</h4>Men's participation is imperative for improving antenatal care (ANC) access and mother and child health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Research looking at improving men's participation in ANC often focuses on their instrumental and psychosocial roles and on biomedical ANC systems. There is limited understanding of how context-specific cultural experiences of fatherhood influence men's participation in ANC within broader communal support networks and across different ANC systems in SSA. Against this background, and to understand how local communities in SSA conceive men's participation in ANC, a scoping review will be undertaken to synthesise existing literature around local cultural experiences of fatherhood and men's participation in ANC in rural settings in SS2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Sep2025-04-04T18:53:35.076Z2025-04-04T18:53:35.076ZS-EPMC114041663926631210.1136/bmjopen-2024-085901