KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES TOWARDS MALE INVOLVEMENT IN ANTENATAL CARE AMONG MALE CLIENTS AT MASIRA HEALTH CENTRE III, BULAMBULI DISTRICT. A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background

Antenatal care is the care given to pregnant women to have a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby. The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices toward male involvement in antenatal care among male clients at Masira Health Centre III, Bulambuli District.

 Methodology

A descriptive cross-sectional design. The study population of interest was all male clients attending Masira Health Centre III. A simple random selection technique was used in this study to give equal opportunity to all respondents and to reduce biases. 96 respondents were recruited.

 Results

The majority of the respondents (35.4%) were aged 24-35 years, followed by (29.2%) aged 15- 24 years, (18.8%) aged 35-45 years and the least (16.7%) aged 45 and above years. Most of them (34.4%) were farmers, (20.8%) were businessmen and (17.7%) were civil servants. The majority 91(94.8%) of the respondents knew about antenatal care services while 5 (5.2%) did not know about antenatal care services. The majority of respondents 84 (88%) agreed that men had important roles to play in their partner’s antenatal care services, and 10(10%) disagreed. The majority 75(78%) reported that they have ever accompanied their partners for antenatal care services whereas 21(22%) said that they have never accompanied their partners for antenatal care services.

 Conclusion 

A large percentage of respondents had a good knowledge of the necessity of involving them during ANC, their role in accompanying them, the benefits of accompanying them, and the services offered at the Antenatal clinics.

 Recommendation

The health facility should also invest more in sensitization and education campaigns in the communities to ensure that male partners receive adequate information on decisions to improve male involvement in antenatal care services.