Abstract
A cross-sectional study covering 380 male partners and their spouses was conducted in Busia district in Western Kenya to establish demographic, socio-economic and cultural factors that affect male partner participation in promoting deliveries by skilled attendants. The study showed a significant relationship between level of education (P=0.0000) and level of income (P=0.0004) of the male partner and his support for skilled delivery. Lack of knowledge by male partners of complications associated with delivery, cultural beliefs, high fees charged for deliveries at health facilities and “un-cooperative” health workers are major contributing factors to low male partner involvement in child birth activities. Improving the levels of education and income of male partners, addressing the cultural beliefs and practices, improving health care provider-client relationship and sensitizing men on complications associated with pregnancy and child birth can contribute significantly in enhancing male partner involvement in promoting deliveries by skilled attendants.
Highlights
IntroductionWhereas the project has achieved significant improvements in a number of maternal and child health indicators, deliveries by skilled providers is still very low, and this is partly attributed to low male partner involvement in child birth issues and failure by them (male partners) in supporting their spouses to access delivery services from skilled attendants (AMREF, 2008)
Lack of knowledge by male partners of complications associated with delivery, cultural beliefs, high fees charged for deliveries at health facilities and “un-cooperative” health workers are major contributing factors to low male partner involvement in child birth activities
Low levels of education and income, negative cultural practices of male partners, negative attitudes of health workers, unavailability of skilled attendants at community level, the “nice care” offered by the traditional birth attendants, and “high fees” charged at health facilities for delivery services have affected the participation of male partners in promoting skilled deliveries for their spouses
Summary
Whereas the project has achieved significant improvements in a number of maternal and child health indicators, deliveries by skilled providers is still very low, and this is partly attributed to low male partner involvement in child birth issues and failure by them (male partners) in supporting their spouses to access delivery services from skilled attendants (AMREF, 2008). This study sought to establish factors that affect male partner involvement in supporting their spouses to access delivery services from skilled attendants in Busia district, in Western Kenya
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