SPOUSAL COMMUNICATION IN DECISION MAKING DURING PREGNANCY IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Despite all the interventions put in place to improve maternal and child health, little has been done on spouses' communication during pregnancy and how it impacts maternal health decision-making. The study sought to unravel the influence of spousal communication when they are pregnant on maternal health decision-making. The study used a mixed-method approach involving 218 pregnant women, six midwives, and village health volunteers from three communities and three health facilities in the district, respectively were interviewed. In-depth interviews with the midwives and village health volunteers were selected purposively; interviews were conducted with pregnant women at the three health facilities selected using stratified sampling. From the study, 96.8% indicated that they often discuss issues concerning their health with their husbands, while only 3.2% did not. Again, 97.2% stated they often discuss their pregnancies with their husbands, while 2.3% did not, and 0.5% did not remember whether they did. From the study, issues such as quarrels, shyness, and husbands' jobs responsibility, making them have little time to communicate, were some of the barriers to spousal communication. About 64% scored high in male involvement in maternal health decision-making during the antenatal care period, while about 36% of males scored low in maternal health decision-making. Male involvement in maternal health decision-making was found to be influenced by age. Though some fathers communicate with their wives, the number is not encouraging. The District Health Management Team must take practical steps to encourage and support the formation of father-to-father support groups in the district, just as there is a mother to mother support group, and ensure that such groups are sustainable and functioning.