Husbands’ involvement in antenatal-related care in the Bosomtwe District of Ghana: inquiry into the facilitators and barriers

Abstract

Background This paper explored the facilitators and barriers to husbands’ involvement in antenatal-related care in the Bosomtwe District of Ghana from the perspectives of husbands, pregnant women with and without delivery experience, nursing mothers, midwives and traditional birth attendants. Methods The study relied on the qualitative research design to collect and analyse data on the facilitators and barriers to husbands’ involvement in antenatal-related care. The unit of analysis was made up of 36 participants—husbands (14), pregnant women with delivery experience and, nursing mothers (8), pregnant women without delivery experience (6), male and female midwives (6) and traditional birth attendants (2) who were purposively selected. The study’s data was gathered using in-depth interviews and analysed through the content approach. Results Various economic [work and time constraint], cultural [the association of childbearing and its allied duties to women] and health-system factors [lack of antenatal services targeted at husbands and health professionals’ attitude] hinder husbands’ active participation in antenatal care. Despite these, some husbands participated in antenatal care owing to the importance they accord to the health and safety of their wives and the foetus; changing gender roles and preferential treatments received by their wives at antenatal clinics [as a result of the involvement of their husbands in prenatal care]. Conclusion The implementation of alternative strategies, like, couple counselling, prolonging operating times of health centres to accommodate working men are recommended to provide a more accommodative and attractive avenue for husbands to support their wives during pregnancy. These efforts must be reinforced by the entire society through modifying the “ill-held view” that pregnancy and childcare is the sole duty of a woman.

Fathers’ involvement in pregnancy and childbirth in Africa: an integrative systematic review

“…The articles’ characteristics are summarised in Table 2 . The studies were carried out in Ethiopia [ 20–23 ], Eritrea [ 24 ], Gambia [ 24 ], Ghana [ 25 , 26 ], Kenya [ 27 , 28 ], Malawi [ 29 , 30 ], Nigeria [ 31 , 32 ], Rwanda [ 33 ], South Africa [ 10 , 34–39 ], Tanzania [ 40–46 ] and Uganda [ 47 , 48 ].…”

“…Of the articles reviewed, 20 were qualitative studies: Gambia [ 24 ], Ghana [ 26 ], Kenya [ 28 ], Malawi [ 29 , 30 ], Nigeria [ 31 ], Rwanda [ 33 ], South Africa [ 10 , 34–36 , 38 , 39 ], Tanzania [ 41–44 , 46 ] and Uganda [ 47 , 48 ]. Nine studies reviewed were quantitative: Ethiopia [ 20–23 ], Eritrea [ 49 ], Ghana [ 25 ], South Africa [ 37 ], and Tanzania [ 40 ].…”

“…In addition, multiple studies reported that women who attended ANC visits with their male partners were given priority and had a shorter wait time. In some cases, men waited in line to hold a spot for their partner and then left for work when she arrived [ 26 ]. Studies also reported fathers’ concerns around being required to take an HIV test if they accompany their partner to ANC services.…”

“…Facilitators included husbands’ concern for baby, modern gender norms and husbands feeling welcome at facilities due to wive’s receiving preferential treatment for husband being present. Quality: 5 Morgan et al, 2022 [ 26 ] 36 IDIs with male partners, pregnant women, midwives and traditional birth attendants 9 Barriers to men’s involvement in antenatal and postnatal care in Butula, Western Kenya. Mixed-methods Cross-sectional 96 men 4 FGDs (8–10 men each) To explore the barriers to men’s involvement in ANC and PNC in Butula sub-county, Western Kenya Kenya Despite the barriers, some men nonetheless accompany their partners to antenatal care.…”

Cultural barriers to male partners’ involvement in antenatal care in Limpopo province

“…Antenatal care appears to increase the usage of emergency obstetric care and motivate women to deliver at a public health facility (Påfs et al 2015 ). However, the male partners are typically not included in ANC despite that they have played a crucial role from the conception through to the delivery of the child (Morgan et al 2022 ). Several impediments have been recognised by researchers as barriers to male engagement; and culture is viewed as a significant relevant element.…”