Prevalence and correlates of male partner involvement in antenatal care services in eastern Kenya: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: The Pan African medical journal 2022, Vol.41, p.167-167
• Main Authors: Nyamai, Pascalyne Kavesa, Matheri, Joseph, Ngure, Kenneth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Kenya - epidemiology; Male; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Spouses
• ISSN: 1937-8688; 1937-8688
• DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2022.41.167.31535

male partner involvement in antenatal care (ANC) contributes to improved maternal health outcomes, but has been wanting in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated the prevalence and factors associated with male involvement in ANC. this was a cross-sectional survey conducted in November and December 2019 in Kitui East sub-county, Kenya. We recruited men above 18 years whose spouses had given birth 12-months prior to the study. Data were collected at the household level using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Male involvement was defined as provision of physical, psycho-social, decision-making, and financial support, which was measured through twelve questions. Factor scores of the twelve questions were generated by fitting a Rasch model. Participants who scored at least 75% were involved. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to identify the independent predictors of male involvement. a total of 300 participants were interviewed. The mean age was 36.7 years (SD=±7.6), 52.3% had primary level education, 64.3% had between 1-3 children, 44.6% were 5 years older than their spouses, while 37.3% earned between $50-$100 per month. The prevalence of male involvement in ANC was 61% (95%C.I: 55.7%, 66.3%) and was positively associated with previous ANC attendance by the spouse (AOR= 4.96, 95% CI: 2.37, 10.38, p