Hindrances To Male Involvement In Maternal Health Care In Kwali Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Involving men in Maternal Health Care (MHC) has become important because of the

realization that men‟s behaviour can significantly affect health outcomes of women and

children. Male involvement in MHC is generally poor in many developing countries

including Nigeria. Reasons for poor male involvement in MHC services have not been

adequately documented. This study was therefore designed to determine hindrances to

male involvement in MHC in Kwali Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria.

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 370 candidates recruited

from households in Kwali Area Council, Abuja using a four-stage sampling technique:

Kwali Area Council from the 6 Area Councils of the FCT, wards selection, settlements

selection and selection of respondents. A pre-tested interviewer administered

questionnaire containing information on knowledge of MHC was assessed using a 23-

point scale. Scores of < 15 and >15 were categorized as low and high knowledge

respectively. Levels of male involvement was assessed using a 6-point scale with scores

of < 4 and > 4 were categorised low and high involvement respectively. Three Focus

Group Discussions (FGDs) were also conducted among men in 3 randomly selected

wards out of the 10 wards in the Area Councils. The FGDs were tape recorded,

transcribed and subjected to content analysis. The quantitative data were analysed using

descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at 0.5% level of significance.

Mean age of the respondents was 37.9 ±9.5 years, educational status: no formal education

(33.2%), Islamic education (21.1%),primary education (15.9%), OND/NCE (14.1%),

HND/B.Sc (8.1%) and secondary education (7.6%). Respondents Religion: Christians

(58.1%), Muslims (41.4%) and traditionalist (0.5%).Ethnical composition: Gbagi

(78.1%), Ibo (6.2%), Hausa (3.2%), Yoruba (2.7%) and other tribes (9.8%). Marital

Status: currently married (99.2%) with (15.9%) were in polygamous marriage. Most

(84.3%) had heard of MHC services with health workers (25.8%) being the leading

source of information among respondents. Many (68.9%) and (31.1%) of respondents had

poor and good knowledge of MHC respectively. Witchcraft (45.7%) and family planning

methods (46.9%) were perceived to be the causes of maternal mortality. Mean knowledge

v

score of respondents who had ever and never heard of MHC were 14.5±3.5 and 11.6±3.0

respectively. Only 42.0% of men had high level of involvement in MHC. Perceived

hindrances to male involvement in MHC included poor knowledge of maternal health

care (95.1%), negative health workers‟ attitude (83.4%), financial constraints (95.7%)

among others. The FGD participants perceived MHC as care given to women from

pregnancy till delivery. Maternal Health Care was perceived as women affairs accounting

for the low male involvement. Significantly more of secondary school holders and above

(50.5%) had good knowledge of maternal health care than other educational

qualifications (p