Male involvement in prenatal care in Jinja Municipality, Uganda

Abstract

Abstract Background: Male involvement in prenatal care remains a challenge to safe motherhood. Objective: This study assessed the prevalence and factors influencing male involvement in prenatal care in Jinja municipality-Jinja district, Uganda between June-August 2016.

Method: The study was both a quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional survey carried out in Jinja Municipality. A total of 480 men were interviewed from the Urban and Peri-urban settings. Twelve key informants and six male champions were interviewed for KIIs and in-depth interviews respectively across the two settings. Descriptive data analysis using frequencies means, standard deviations and logistic regression was carried out for quantitative data by STATA. Qualitative data was grouped within those categories that best described them and appropriate quotes were reported verbatim. Results: The study found that only 38% of the men in Jinja Municipality were highly involved in prenatal care. A fee was charged at ANC clinic was associated with male involvement in prenatal care [CPR=0.7, CI=0.5-0.8, p=0.000]. Waiting time of <1 hour was most likely to influence male involvement in prenatal care [CPR=0.7, CI: 0.6-0.9, p=0.019]. Good health workers attitude was perceived to be associated with male involvement in prenatal care [CPR=1.6, CI: 1.2-2.0, p=0.001]. Men who viewed accompanying wives to hospital as a sign of love/responsibility were more likely to be involved in prenatal care [CPR=0.1, CI: 0.0-0.2, p=0.000].

Conclusion: Health system factors and perception still remain a challenge to male involvement in prenatal care in Jinja Municipality. However, there is an opportunity to improve these factors since male involvement in prenatal care was shown to be feasible and constitutes an important step in reducing maternal and new-born mortality in Jinja municipality.