Factors affecting male involvement in Antenatal and postnatal care services in Zambia: A case of Kabwe Urban and Chamuka Rural areas in Central Province

Abstract

Employing both quantitative and qualitative paradigms, the study sought to investigate factors affecting male involvement in antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC services in both rural and urban settings of Zambia. Despite the efforts by the Ministry of Health in ensuring that national health policy guide lines in Zambia are put in place and stipulate male participation in maternal health services, the response is still low. Quantitative data was collected using open-ended and closed-ended questions to 210 respondents which were processed and analyzed using SPSS Version 16.0.Qualitative data was collected using 10 semi structured in-depth interview guide. Other approaches used were, Focused Group Discussion (FGDs), document review and observation. Qualitative data was analyzed by emerging themes. Among other things, the study revealed that respondents from Kabwe urban were more knowledgeable on ANC services though with a minimal difference (93.9%) as compared to the respondents from Chamuka rural areas (92%). In the study it was also revealed that respondents from urban areas had more knowledge of PNC services (96.2%), slightly higher than their counter parts in the rural areas (89.2%). However, the analysis of the findings show that men from rural areas were more involved in maternal health services (85.7%) as compared to the level of male involvement in maternal health services in urban areas (72.4%).The study also revealed that men were more included in ANC than PNC services. Reflection on the findings seems to suggest that there are many factors affecting male involvement in maternal health services such as socio-economic factors, cultural factors, health factors and residence of the respondents. Factors that affect male involvement in rural areas are different from those factors that are experienced in male involvement in urban areas. In this view the study has highlighted a number of factors that affect male involvement in maternal health services both in rural and urban areas respectively. In the study it was also revealed that men have a perception that reproductive health (RH) issues are exclusively for women.