Male involvement in antenatal care and associated factors among married men with wives who recently gave birth in Debre Tabor town, North West Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract Background Globally, maternal mortality remains a critical issue, with male involvement during antenatal care (ANC) recognized as pivotal in reducing maternal deaths. Limited evidence on male involvement exists in low and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess male involvement during antenatal care and associated factors among married men whose wives gave birth within the last 6 months in Debretabor town, North West Ethiopia in 2023. Objective Evaluate the level of male involvement during antenatal care and identify associated factors in the specified study area. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study involved 404 married men, whose wives had given birth within the past 6 months in Debretabor town. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews, entered into EpiData version 4.6, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression analyses determined associations. Results Male involvement during antenatal care in the study area was 46.8% (CI: 41.6, 51.5). Factors influencing involvement included men's attitude (AOR = 2.365), lack of male invitation to the examination room (AOR = 0.370), couples' living status (AOR = 4.461), men with secondary education (AOR = 4.052), men with diploma and above (AOR = 4.276), and complications during pregnancy (AOR = 6.976). Conclusion and recommendation The observed low level of male involvement underscores the need for targeted interventions. Stakeholders should promote male participation through counseling, community mobilization, and awareness campaigns.

Keywords

• Antenatal care
• Male involvement
• Attitude
• Knowledge
• Debretabor town