Abstract
BackgroundMale partner participation in antenatal care (ANC) is important and contributes to better maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. Studies have been conducted to explore male participation in ANC and barriers to participation. However, these studies have been conducted in the general population and not the military settings, which are gendered institutions. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of male participation in ANC in a military setting.MethodsA qualitative case study approach using convenient sampling was used to enlist sixteen (n = 16) military men whose partners or wives were attending ANC. In-depth interviews were conducted with participants to get their perspectives on their participation in ANC. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and codes, categories and themes were generated from the data. Data analysis was done manually and was guided by thematic framework analysis approach. We designed a table which listed all emerging themes, categories and sub-themes.ResultsParticipants were aged 27–45 years and some attained tertiary education. Five themes emerged to explain the perspectives of male participation in ANC. Men’s roles were perceived to be limited to provision of appropriate food and supplies, physical and emotional support. Generally, ANC attendance was considered a woman’s private activity because even health care providers were mostly female. However, the desire to have a healthy baby prompted many to seek information on ANC. On the other hand, priority given to couples attending ANC and the need to be part of the decision making motivated some to participate. For the participants in this study, military operations, fear of being tested for HIV and the belief that presence of men in ANC interferes with care made them shun the services.ConclusionLack of awareness on the importance of male participation in ANC impacted on the understanding of access and use of services by participants. The study has practical implications in the military institution to formulate policy on male participation in ANC to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes as well as support staff who have to attend to their pregnant wives or partners.
Highlights
Male partner participation in antenatal care (ANC) is important and contributes to better maternal and neonatal birth outcomes
The results showed that ANC attendance is considered as a women’s activity especially that in Zambia the services are predominantly provided by female health workers
Regarding the role of men in ANC, studies have shown that male involvement in safe motherhood has become a topical issue since the concept of reproductive health and rights was adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994
Summary
Male partner participation in antenatal care (ANC) is important and contributes to better maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. In African countries, play a pivotal role in decision-making within a home, and are often the breadwinners Establishing their participation and support for sexual reproductive health service utilization is critical [2,3,4,5]. Researchers have advanced various definitions of male partner participation in sexual reproductive health Some define it as the process of social and behavioural change that is needed for men to play more responsible roles in maternal health care with the purpose of ensuring women’s and children’s wellbeing [6] or men accompanying their spouses, providing social-economic support and using family planning as well as HIV prevention measures [7]. Male partner participation entails a male partner or husband accompanying his wife or female partner to Antenatal Care (ANC), providing social economic support and ensuring that all recommendations made at ANC are observed to safeguard the wellbeing of the couple and the baby
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