HUSBAND INVOLVEMENT IN MATERNAL CARE AMONG WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE ATTENDING POST NATAL CLINIC IN IBADAN

Abstract

Nigeria recorded more than 40,000 deaths of women in 2013 third after India and Serria - lone as countries with the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. Men's participation in antenatal, childbirth and postnatal care is crucial to the health of the mothers and neonates. Nevertheless, very few men participate in maternal health, especially in developing countries. The objective of this study is to determine the current level of participation of men in maternal care and preferences of women attending the post natal clinic at Adeoyo Maternity Hospital Ibadan. A cross-sectional study design was used . Systematic random sampling was used to recruit a total of 335 women attending post natal clinic on immunization and breastfeeding clinic days. The women were interviewed with a self administered questionnaire consisting of three sections: demographics, Husband's involvement in pregnancy, Labour and Post natal/ baby care and perception, preference and barriers to Husband's involvement in their wives care. The mean value of all the responses was calculated with values below the mean was considered to be low involvement and those above the mean were considered as high involvement. Analysis were done using SPSS version 16 . Chi-square test and binary Logistic regression was used to analyze associations between the independent variables and husband's involvement which was categorized as High or Low. The mean age of the respondents was 30.7 ± 5.4 years. More than half of the respondents attended a tertiary institution 178 (53.5%), while 141 (42.3%) attended secondary school. About a third of our respondents had one previous pregnancy while 39% have had two other pregnancies . About 86% of the women reported their husbands of encouraged them to book for ANC however about 37% ever accompanied their wives to ANC. During the period of labour about 67 % of the men were present from the onset of labour and followed their wives to the hospital. Husband's number of antenatal visits s affected their involvement in labour as husbands attending one ANC had 66% high involvement in their wives care during labour and those who attended two ANC have 75% high husband involvement in maternal care. About 37% of men accompanied their wives for PNC. Muslim respondents were significantly four times less likely than their Christian counterparts to want husband's involvement in their care. (OR= 0.27, 95%CI=0.13-0.56). A higher proportion of men were present during labour compared to ANC and PNC. Also a high percentage of the women wanted their husbands fully involved in their care. Campaigns are needed to promote a greater involvement of men in the maternal care of their wives.