Birth Preparedness, Complication Readiness and Fathers’ Participation in Maternity Care in a Northern Nigerian Community
Abstract
The role of men in maternity care in Africa is understudied, despite their economic dominance and decision making power. In a patriarchal society like northern Nigeria, pregnancy and childbirth are often regarded as exclusively women’s affairs. Using data from interviewer administered questionnaires and in-depth interviews; we assessed birth preparedness, complication readiness and male participation in maternity care in Ungogo, a northern Nigerian community. Majority of pregnancies were unplanned (96%). Only 32.1% of men ever accompanied their spouses for maternity care. There was very little preparation for skilled assistance during delivery (6.2%), savings for emergencies (19.5%) or transportation during labour (24.2%). Young paternal age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2-2.6), formal education (AOR=1.9, 95%CI=1.1-3.4) and non-Hausa Fulani ethnicity (AOR=2.3, 95%CI=1.4-3.3) were independent predictors of male participation in maternity care. There is a need to increase involvement of men in their partner’s maternity care through peer-led, culturally-sensitive community education and appropriate health system reforms (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[1]:21-32).
RĖSUMĖ
Etat de preparation pour l’accouchement, pour les complications et la participation du pere aux soins de maternite dans une communaute au nord du Nigeria. Ou a peu étudié le rôle des hommes dans les soins de maternité en Afrique malgré leur dominance économique et leur pouvoir de prendre des décisions. Dans une société partriacale tel que le nord du Nigéria on a souvent considéré que la grosses et l’accouchement sont exclusivement des affaires des femmes. A l’aide des questionnaires administrés par l’enquêteur et des interviews en profondeur, nous avons évalué l’état de préparation pour l’accouchement, pour les complications et la participation des hommes aux soins de maternité à Ungoro, une communauté qui se trouve au nord du Nigéria. La plupart des grossesses n’étaient pas planifiées (96%). Il n’y avait que 32,1% des hommes qui avaient jamais accompagné leurs femmes à la maternité. Il y avait très peu de préparation pour l’assistance professionnelle pendant l’accouchement (6,2%), peu d’économies pour les cas d’urgence (19,5%) ou pour le transport pendant le travail (24,2%). Le jeune âge paternel, les proportions des chances ajustés (PCA) = 1,5, 95% de l’intervalle de confiance [CI] = 1,2 – 2, 6, l’éducation formelle (PAC = 1,9, 95% (CI = 1,1 - 3,4 et le groupe qui n’appartient pas au groupe ethnique haoussafulani (PCA = 2,3, 95% (CF = 1,4 – 3,3, constituaient des indices indépendants de la participation masculine au soin de maternité. Il est nécessaire d’augmenter la participation des hommes aux soins de maternité de leurs partenaires à travers une éducation de la communauté qui est dirigée par les pairs et qui est culturellement sensible et à travers des reformes du septème de santé appropriées (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[1]:21-32).
KEYWORDS: Men, Maternity care, Northern Nigeria, Birth preparedness, Complication readiness
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