Active Male Partner Participation in Maternal Health Care Services Case Study: Health Facilities in Lira District

Abstract

Introduction/Background

Globally, AMPP is considered a crucial component in the optimization of holistic better family and community health care outcomes lies on recognizing important roles played by male partners, as they are considered sole decision makers, as agents of positive change, Walston and USAID, (2005) (UNFPA, 1995; United Nations, 1996). To mitigate or eliminate or reduce the 3 sources of delays (delay in seeking H/C services, delay in arriving and delays in receiving appropriate H/C services. This study was conducted to find out the different factors influencing the nature and level of male partner’s actively participating in skilled maternal health care services in Lira district.

Methodology

This study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey that employed both (quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis). It was a health facility based and data was collected from selected health facilities in Lira District, Northern Uganda. A total of select 358 respondents were interviewed of the 422 sample study population. KIs and FGDs was used to collect qualitative data which was analysed according to themes while quantitative data were analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20.

Findings (major only)

Nature: 57% of the 208 escorted their spouses for maternal care services and 25% tested for HIV, hence Male involvement not AMPP. Found a significant mean difference and a significant relationship between men’s income status and nature of their AMPP at (F>7.98) and a (P<0.001), age brackets and nature of AMPP (P<0.012); between men’s levels of education and their nature of AMPP at a (F>6.89) and a (P<0.014); employment status and nature of MPP at a (F>4.5) and (P<0.000); between residence type and nature AMPP a (F>8.2) and a (P<0.003). Religious affiliation groups (Catholic, protestant, Muslim and others) was not to have significant influence on nature of AMPP at (F<1.05) and a (P>0.270).

Level

The finding of the study revealed that the level of AMPP in skilled maternal health care services is low in Lira district at 19.8%; with 80.2% of the participants reported not ever attended, Not given FS, Not participated in decision making in skilled MNCH, SRHS with their partners. (Agreed to by Nkuoh, et al. 2010 and Nantamu, 2011 that AMPP falls between 5 to 25%). The study found men’s income status, age, level of education, employment status, and residence type to influence level of AMPP in MNCH to have significant influences on the levels of AMPP. However, no significant influence and on mean difference was found between religious affiliation groups and level of AMPP at (F<1.05) and a (P>0.270). Factors influencing the observed nature and level: The major influencing factors as told by the male partners were: - Men left un attended to by nurses (16%); men’s fear to test for HIV (15%); men’s claim to have busy schedules as bread earners (15%) and a lot of time is wasted/spent at MNCH clinics (14%), nurses don’t men (12%), H/F are far (6.7%), No invitation letter for men (4%) and least messages passed focused on women (3%). (Larsson et al. 2010; Musheke, Bond and Merten (2013); Nkuoh et al. 2010).

Policy implications & Recommendations National level

Amendment of the national strategy policy guideline for men involvement to include AMPP; disseminate policy to districts and implementing organisations. Health promotion: Re-design and re-orient MNCH, SRHS health care services; Lira district: Strengthen collaborations/partnerships using participatory approach to project programming; increasing public-private partnerships;

Conclusions

The study recognized the important roles male partners play in supporting women in accessing skilled MNCH services and therefore, there’s need to review, re-design and re-strategize new policies and strategies to increase AMPP in skilled MNCH services.

Areas of further studies

The study suggested that further studies be undertaken to assess of the effectiveness of NGO strategies in enhancing male partner’s active participation in skilled MNCH, SRHS and in other gender programmes; assess of the appropriateness of maternal child health care services given to expectant mothers who arrive late and assess of the appropriateness of maternal child health care clinics on maternal and child morbidity and mortality.

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