Effect of media use and inter-spousal communication on male participation in contraceptive use and maternal health

Abstract

Male involvement is considered to be a promising means for ensuring the safe maternal health of women. Research findings show that media use, as well as inter-spousal communication, can promote men's participation in contraceptive use and maternal health. The present study aims at examining the impact of media use and couple communication as well on husbands’ support in their wives’ contraceptive use, antenatal, care/checkups delivery, and post-natal care. Data was collected from 200 married women aged 15–49 years from both the rural and urban areas through a structured questionnaire. Chi-square (χ2) tests were performed to find the association between media use as well as spousal communication and husbands’ help in contraceptive use and maternal health care. P-values of bivariate analyses of this study found significant differences in most of the variables related to male participation in family planning and maternal health care by the husbands’ media use and couple communication as well. In other words, husbands with high media use and regular reproductive health communication with their wives were more likely to participate in wives’ maternal health and family planning matters. This study suggests further research to adopt a new strategy and approach to reinforce male support in promoting maternal health.