MALE INVOLVEMENT IN MATERNAL HEALTH CARE ISSUES: A CASE STUDY OF THE BAWKU MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

The 1994 ICPD Cairo conference paved the way and gave recognition to male involvement in maternal health care issues, but globally, male involvement in maternal health care issues remains a challenge to effective maternal health care service utilization by pregnant women and mothers with their new born babies. The main objective of the study was to examine factors associated with male involvement during antenatal care, labour and the postpartum periods, and to assess male influence on women's decisions to seek maternal health care services. A cross sectional survey using interviewer administered structured questionnaire was conducted among 400 male respondents aged 18 years and above who are fathers. Four focus group discussions; two female groups and two male groups were conducted to triangulate the quantitative data. Pearson Chi-Square was used to test association between the various factors and male involvement while logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the influence of these factors on male involvement. The focus-group discussions were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Eighty seven percent (87%) of the respondents held that male involvement in maternal health is a good practice, 10% claimed the practice was culturally unacceptable. Couples joint plans and decision making during the labour was 24.5%,45% at the antenatal level and 56.5% during the post natal period. Factors that influenced low male involvement were increasing age (AOR: 0.422, 95% CI: 0.259 - 0,688, P = 0.001), lack of formal invitation (AOR: 0.167, 95% CI: 0.099 - 0.282, P < 0,001), and long waiting time (AOR: 0.170, 95% CI: 0.082 - 0.355, P < 0.001). Formal education (AOR: 3.262, 95% CI: 1.828 - 5.820, P < 0.001), being employed (AOR: 2.031, 95%CI: 1.083 - 3.810, P = 0.027) and friendliness of the health professionals (AOR: 2.499, 95%CI: 1.451 - 4.304, P = 0.001) were factors influencing increased male involvement. Providing male friendly health facilities in terms of infrastructure, improving on services and staff attitudes as well as education of the community especially men to sensitize them against the negative attitudes towards male involvement in maternal health care can improve male involvement.