Abstract:
Background: Maternal health care services comprise of a wide range of health services given to the
mother before pregnancy, during pregnancy, labor and after delivery. Men, as partners and decision
makers, need to be involved in maternal health care services, Low male involvement in maternal health
care services results in low utilization of Antenatal care, health facility delivery and postnatal care leading
to high maternal morbidity and mortality.
Objective: To asses male partner involvement in maternal health care service and associated factors in
shashemene town oromia region, Ethiopia,2014.
Method and material: community based cross sectional study was conducted from April 1-30/2014 , in
Shashemene town, with 362 sample size of male partner who have infant and multistage sampling
method was used. Quantitative Data was collected by using structured questionnaire through face to
face interview. Data was entered by using epi-data version3.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 16.0
.Bivariate analysis was employed and those variables had p-value < 0.25 was candidate for multivariable
analysis. The degree of association between independent and dependent variables was assessed using
logistic regression and variables which had p-value < 0.05 were selected as predictors. Factor analysis
was done for likert scale questions of Attitude.
Result: From the total of 362 households, 355 gave complete response to the interview yielding a
response rate of 98%. About 59.7% of the men in Shashemene town involved in maternal health care
service,59.8% of them were involved in delivery care service,39.6% in Antenatal care and 20.2% in PNC
service. Factors that predicted male involvement in maternal health care services were include:-
educational level of wife (AOR 6.5, 95% CI:3.5-11.9), spouse communication (AOR
3.2,95%CI:1.8-5.8),Type of marriage(AOR 3.195%CI:1.1-9.6), knowledge about maternal health care
(AOR 2.7,95%CI:1.4-5.2) and Health facility factors like, opening time(AOR 2.4 95%CI:1.2-4.6),
health provider approach(AOR 4.7,95%CI:2.3-9.6) .
Conclusion and Recommendation: The proportions of males who involve on maternal health care
service were low. Strategies for improvement of male involvement in maternal health care services
should include, encouraging couple communication on matters concerning maternal health care services,
encourage education for both male and female, strengthening health education by health provider on male
involvement on maternal health care service and on services.
