Male Partner Involvement in the Care and Support of Women during Antenatal Care and Delivery in Cameroon: the case of the Limbe Health District.

Abstract

Male partner involvement is associated with positive maternal and infant outcomes. This study aims at establishing a baseline on the level of male involvement, assess health personnels’ perception and determine factors that influence male involvement.

Findings: 47.8%, 49.5% and 2.7% of the respondents had high, moderate and low level of male partner involvement respectively. Health care providers expressed challenges of lack of male friendly infrastructure and inadequate training tailored towards male involvement. Socio-cultural factors like Couple living together (OR=2.78; 95%CL1.31-5.87; P=0.008), planned pregnancy (OR=2.72; 95%CL1.53-4.82; P=0.001), partner involved in decision making on health facility to visit (OR=16.40; 95%CL2.21-121.72; P=0.006) significantly influenced level of involvement. Barriers included poor staff attitudes, restrictions of male access to the delivery room, boring and long waiting time.