http://www.ijssit.com © Wamuyu, Mberia 2705 INFLUENCE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGNS ON MEN’S PARTICIPATION IN MATERNAL HEALTH IN KENYA. A CASE OF THE BEYOND ZERO CAMPAIGN 1* Lilian Wamuyu Mwangi Student, MSc. Mass Communication Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology lilianmwangi@yahoo.com 2** Professor Hellen Mberia Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Abstract In Kenya, the beyond zero campaign; an initiative of the first lady of Kenya has been used to improve maternal health. Despite these interventions, the numbers of maternal mortalities are still unacceptably high. This study is meant to inform policy makers on the necessary policy developments towards the inclusion of men in maternal and reproductive health programs. It is also meant to inform the reproductive health communication campaign developers in Kenya with regards to the necessary improvements on the campaigns to make them more effective in enhancing men’s participation in maternal health in Kenya. Therefore, this study sought to determine the influence of reproductive health communication campaign on men’s participation in maternal health in Kenya, the case of the Beyond Zero Campaign which was one of the longest existing reproductive health communication campaigns in Kenya. This study was meant to find out the influence of various communication campaign factors and to inform campaign designers and policy makers on how to enhance the effectiveness of such intervention towards improved maternal health. The study found that the credibility and the social and political power of the source of beyond zero campaign had an influence on the participation of men in maternal health. This study also found that the communication campaign messages received by the respondents were not persuasive to men since most were targeted towards women and not men. This study established that the channels employed to disseminate the beyond zero campaign were easily accessible though their influence on men’s participation in maternal health was minimal. Keywords: beyond zero campaign, health communication campaigns, health, men’s participation Background of the study Men play a key role in decisions integral to maternal and newborn health. For example, family planning, including delaying first pregnancy, adequate birth spacing, reducing unplanned pregnancies and limiting the total number of pregnancies, positively impacts maternal health and reduces maternal deaths (Singh, 2003). Men are often responsible for decision-making about family planning and use of contraceptives (Yue K, et al., 2010; Mehta M, 2002.; Ko IS, 2010.; Montgomery ET, et al., 2011.).Men also play a key role in determining women’s access to critical health services, including antenatal and intrapartum care