Factors Influencing Husband’s Involvement during Antenatal Care in Lalitpur District of Nepal

Abstract

This research aimed to identify the proportion of husbands involved during antenatal care (ANC) and factors influencing husband’s involvement during ANC in Lalitpur district of Nepal. A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst married men (n=284), who were aged 20 years and above and whose wives had experienced a live birth within one year before data collection. Univariate chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used to identify associations and predictors respectively. The results indicated that 87.7% of the respondents were highly involved during ANC. After adjusting for confounding factors, the final model revealed that husband’s education (primary and secondary) (AOR: 12.592, 95% CI: 1.578-100.509 and AOR: 14.261, 95% CI: 1.771-114.839), wife’s education (AOR: 7.648, 95% CI: 1.191-49.122) and distance to the nearest ANC clinic (AOR: 7.643, 95% CI: 1.997-29.245) were significant predictors. Perceived low support from the female community health volunteers, and male-unfriendly ANC facilities and policies, are challenges with regards to active male involvement during ANC. Hence, providing education to individuals, strengthening the role of female community health volunteers, and establishing ANC facilities and related policies which accommodate males, could improve male involvement in ANC.