Perspectives on Male Involvement in Maternity Care among Male Postgraduate Students at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Maternal mortality rate is still a major problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Nigeria. In Nigeria, the lack of male involvement in maternity care has been indicated as one of the factors aggravating maternal mortality. Therefore, this study examined the perception of male involvement in maternity care among male postgraduate students at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Methodology: This quantitative study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design. The data were generated using structured, self-administered questionnaires to gather data from 155 male postgraduate students at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were analysed using SPSS version 22.0. Inferential statistics were used for hypotheses testing at a 0.05% level of significance. Results: The findings of the research revealed that 69% of the respondents had a positive perception of male involvement in maternity care. Also, there was no significant relationship between men’s age, occupational status, marital status, and their perception of involvement in maternal health care services. Recommendations: Health professionals should be actively involved in the continuous education of men of marriageable age on the roles and responsibilities of men during pregnancy, labour, and childbirth to promote male involvement in maternal health services, thereby reducing the maternal mortality rate.