Men`s knowledge towards obstetric danger signs and their involvement on birth preparedness in Aneded woreda, Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: World Health Organization estimates that about 300 million women are suffering from short and long-term illnesses related to pregnancy and childbirth in developing countries. Men have social and economic power, and have tremendous control over their wives. Men decide the timing and conditions of sexual relations, family size, and utilization of health care services by their spouse. Male involvement will enable their spouses to utilize emergency obstetric services early and to prepare for birth and ready themselves for complications. This would lead to a reduction in delays to seek and receive care and there by positively impact birth outcomes.
Objective: To Assess men’s awareness of obstetric danger signs and their involvement on birth preparedness practice in Aneded District, Amhara Regional state, Northwest Ethiopia 2017.
Materials and Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from April to May 2017. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 422 samples. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.00 statistical software. Multivarite logistic regression was used to assess degree of association between dependent and independent variables and factors with p<0.05 were statistically significant.
Result: Respondents who had good knowledge towards danger signs of pregnancy, child birth and post-partum were 44%, 53% and 49%, respectively. Sixty one percent of men had good knowledge towards birth preparedness and only 45.4% of them practiced birth preparedness plan. Variables associated significantly with men’s knowledge towards obstetric danger signs were men`s age group of 30–39 years [AOR:2.28; 95% CI (1.64 - 3.04)], 40–49 years [AOR: 3.25; 95% CI (1.12, 6.68)] and 50-59years [AOR: 3.55; 95%CI (1.64–8.85)]; men who live in the urban area [AOR: 3.52; 95%CI ( 3.98 -7.2)]; being governmental employee [AOR: 4.54; 95% CI (1.7, 24.0)]; partners whose wives delivered at health center [AOR: 1.67; 95% CI (1.32, 4.38)], hospital [AOR: 2.16; 95%CI (1.17, 5.04)]; men whose wives had antenatal care follow up in their previous pregnancy [AOR: 1.49; 95% CI (1.39, 3.37)] and danger signs of previous pregnancy [AOR: 1.29; 95%CI (1.39, 4.05)]. Variables significantly associated with birth preparedness practice of men’s were men`s age group of 30–39 years [AOR:2.28; 95% CI (2.14-4.04)] age group 40–49 years [AOR: 5.2; 95%CI (1.42, 6.78)], age group 50–59 years [AOR: 4.25; 95% CI( 2.64–7.85)], being government employee [AOR: 3.9; 95%CI (1.25 - 13.0)], partners whose wives delivered at health center [AOR: 2.99; 95%CI (3.21, 4.28)], in hospital [AOR: 3.2; 95%CI (1.37, 6.14)] and partners whose wives had antenatal care follow up in their previous pregnancy [AOR: 2.45; 95%CI (2.29, 4.37)] were identified significant variables.

Conclusion: Men`s knowledge towards obstetric danger signs and their birth preparedness practice for their wives were found low. So the government and stakeholders should give due emphasis to husband education to enable them to recognize obstetric danger signs so as to increase their involvement in birth preparedness practice.