Male Partner Involvement in Maternal Health Care: A Study in The Nandom District of the Upper West Region-Ghana

Abstract

Background: Male partners play a critical and impactful roles in Reproductive Health(RH),and are gradually being incorporated into Family Planning(FP) programs, maternal Healthcare and HIV/AIDS” prevention programs, and in the effort to achieve Ghana’s SDG 3 by 2030. For the very few men who would want to be involved in maternal healthcare, existing situations (congestion in hospitals, attitude of health workers, socioeconomic restraints) militate against their full participation. This study was conducted to assess factors influencing male involvement in ANC in the Nandom district. Methods: A cross sectional study design- mix method involving 395 male respondents who are aged 18 years and above, whose partners have ever attended or attend ANC in the Nandom district. Data was obtained via administered questionnaires and analyzed using STATA version 15.The qualitative study involved FGDS via a guide with probes. Logistic regression was ran to assess the predictors of male ANC attendance in the Nandom district. All statistical tests will be two-sided and considered significant at p<0.05. Results: Majority (92.4%) of the respondents had accompanied their partners to ANC clinics, with an average attendance of 5 times. This was largely due to the CHPS concept of health, their faith and agreed deterring community norms regarding ANC. Predictors of male partner involvement in ANC in the multivariable analysis were predisposing factors (age, education level, marital status, religion, residence and parity), enabling factors (distance, means of accessing ANC, time and staff attitude at ANC, and community acceptability) and reinforcing factors (knowledge, ANC discussion with partner, men who accompany partners to ANC). Consequently, the study found a significant association between the amount spent on transportation (p<0.001), distance to the ANC center (p<0.001), respondents’ views about ANC services (p<0.001) and male partner participation in ANC. Conclusion: The study results have greater implications for public health policy formulation and implementation due to the 92.4% ANC attendance in the Nandom District-largely as a result of the punitive or deterrent measures adopted by the community. In addition, the distance, and high transport fares to ANC and PNC were highly associated to the outcome.