Determinants of male partner participation in skilled antenatal and delivery care in Omoro County, Gulu District

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the level, willingness, perceptions of, and factors associated with male partner participation in skilled antenatal (ANC) and delivery care in Gulu district. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey that used multi-stage sampling was employed to select 331 respondents from 12 clusters in Omoro county of Gulu. Face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire were administered to male partners aged ≥18years whose spouses had delivered within 24 months preceding the survey. The main outcome measure was male participation in skilled ANC, while the secondary outcome was male participation in delivery care. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done in Stata 10.0. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) and five key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted and manifest content analysis done. Results: Male partner participation in skilled ANC and delivery care was 65.4% and 48.3% respectively. Factors significantly associated with increased participation in ANC were; knowledge of ≥3ANC services (AOR 37.67, 95%CI 14.03 – 101.2), post-primary education (AOR 2.18, 95%CI 1.14 – 4.18) and being married (AOR 2.36, 95%CI 1.28 – 4.33). Participation in delivery care was associated with household size >4 (AOR 10.81, 95%CI 2.75 – 42.48) and perceived safety of delivery (AOR 4.48, 95%CI 1.37 – 14.64). Long distance to the health facility > 1 hour was associated with non-participation in ANC, while obtaining health information from community campaigns seemed to negatively influence ANC and delivery care participation. Furthermore, KIIs and FGDs reported limited knowledge of services, fear of HIV testing, culture and shame to limit participation in ANC and delivery care. Conclusions/Recommendation: There is inadequate male partner participation in skilled ANC and delivery care in Gulu district. The DHT should disseminate correct health messages to male partners and carry out routine quality monitoring of messages at community campaigns