Men's involvement in birth preparedness and complication readiness in Dessie Zuria, northeast Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background/Aims Rates of maternal mortality and morbidity remain high in low- and middle-income countries, despite the creation of strategies to reduce the rate of preventable causes of death. Involving women's partners in maternity care is an important intervention to promote maternal and neonatal health during pregnancy, labour and birth. This study's aims were to assess factors associated with husbands' involvement in birth preparedness and complication readiness in Dessie Zuria, northeast Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Dessie Zuria, among the male partners of women of reproductive age who had given birth within the last year. A total of 634 respondents were included. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. Binary logistic regression was implemented to assess factors associated with men's involvement. Results Around half (53.1%) of the participants had been involved in birth preparedness and complication readiness. Significantly associated factors included having formal education (P=0.001), having spouses who could read and write (P=0.003) or who had formal education (P=0.002), having 3–4 children (P=0.031), living within 10km of a health institution (P=0.002), and having good knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy (P=0.005), labour and birth (P=0.001). Conclusions Men's involvement in birth preparedness and complication readiness was low. Educating couples and raising awareness of the warning indicators of pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period are important interventions to improve men's involvement.