TOPIC
Assessment of Factors that affect male partner involvement in emergency obstetric care in Fortportal Regional referral hospital

AUTHORS

Norah, Ngami Mutuku


ABSTRACT
Male partner involvement has been recognized as a key factor in improving maternal health
and reducing maternal mortality in settings where men play key roles in decision making in
the household. Male partner involvement is one of the strategies that can be used to accelerate
the decline in maternal mortality and improve maternal health. The objective of this study
was to determine the level of male partner involvement in emergency obstetric care and/or
came from home in labour and identify factors that influenced their involvement. A crosssectional survey using interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was conducted
among 150 women aged 18 years. Male involvement was measured using a composite measure
of 5 key points. Pearson Chi-Square was used to test association between the various factors
and the level of male involvement and logistic regression analysis was carried out to
determine the influence of these factors on the level of male involvement. The mean age of
participants was 32.9 years (SD=8.2). Overall, 26.4% had high level of involvement, 55.2% had
moderate level of involvement and 18.4% had low level of involvement. The period with the
highest proportion of high male involvement was during labour and delivery. Younger age (18-
25years vs. 26-35years: OR=0.28, 95%CI: 0.12, 0.66) and the couple living with other family
members negatively impacted on the level of male involvement. On the other hand, higher
level of education (Tertiary: OR=40.57, 95%CI- 3.16, 520.32; Senior Secondary: OR=7.73, 95%
CI- 1.61, 37.15) and the couple living together (OR= 13.12, 95%CI 6.86, 25.08) had a positive
influence on the level of male involvement. Healthcare institution barriers to male partner
involvement included poor staff attitudes, restrictions on male access to labour and delivery
rooms and unwelcoming health facility environment. Male involvement in emergency
obstetric care and/or came from home in labour was not optimal. Improving male-friendliness
of health facilities in terms of infrastructure, organization of services and staff attitudes and
education of the community especially men to sensitize them against the negative attitudes
towards male participation in maternity care can improve male involvement. The Hospital
Management Team in collaboration with the community leaders should organize educational
campaigns within the communities to educate community members especially the men, on
the importance and benefits of male involvement in maternal health care. Such campaigns can
also address negative sociocultural norms and attitudes. The hospital should restructure the
maternal health clinics to make them more male friendly. Adequate space and privacy must
be provided. Given the sociocultural diversity in the country, more research should be
encouraged in this important area to enable the design of culturally appropriate and sensitive
male friendly services throughout the country.
Keywords: Maternal mortality, male partner, emergency, obstetric care and Fortportal Hospital

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PUBLISHED

2023-01-11

HOW TO CITE

Norah, Ngami Mutuku (2023). Assessment of Factors that affect male partner involvement in emergency obstetric care in Fortportal Regional referral hospital. IDOSR Journal of Applied Sciences 8(2) 58- 73.https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/2023/10.1.7005