Predictors Of Male Involvement Inantenatal Care In Palabek Refugee Settlement, Lamwo District, Northern Uganda:

Abstract

Background: Male involvement in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) remains low in developing countries with more involvement being realized in the developed nations. In Uganda, although the government launched the national male involvement strategy in 2014, male involvement in antenatal care (ANC) remains low. Objective of the study: We investigated predictors of male involvement in antenatal care in Palabek refugee settlement. Methodology: We conducted a community based cross sectional study with a mixed methods approach in Palabek refugee settlement among a proportionate sample of mothers. We also conducted focus group discussions and key informant interviews to collect qualitative data on male involvement in ANC. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21. In order to ascertain the relation between the dependent and independent variables, Pearson Chi-Square test was conducted. Variables whose P-values were <0.05 at 95% confidence interval were considered significant. Alogistic regression model was used to determine the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Results: High level of male involvement in ANC in Palabek refugee settlement was 38.77% while low level of involvement stood at 61.23%. Male involvement was positively associated with access to information to ANC (AOR=2.836;95%Cl=1.558-5.161; P<0.001) and frequent couple discussion on ANC (AOR =10.780;95%Cl=5.876-19.777; P<0.001) Conclusions: The predictors of male involvement arise from different levels of the socio-ecological model therefore strategies to address gaps of low male involvement should be implemented at all these levels. The government of Uganda and UNHCR should accelerate community sensitization on the importance of male involvement and the role of male partners during pregnancy. The government of Uganda and UNCHR should emphasize the implementation of the modeling approach where men with high involvement index are modeled to become change agents to their peers.