Abstract

This study aimed to examine men’s perception, attitude and involvement in maternal care. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out in Atelewo community in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria using multi-stage sampling technique to select 400 respondents. Participants were adult men of reproductive age. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire. In the study, there was no intervention component; and main outcome measures were perception of men about maternal health, attitude of men to maternal health and involvement of men in maternal care. Results revealed majority of the respondents 225 (62.2%) were within the age group 20 to 39 years with a mean age of 36.3 years ±10.86. Most of them were skilled workers 144 (39.8%) and many 147 (40.6%) had post primary school education. One hundred and eighty-six (51.5%) of the respondents had poor knowledge while 205 (56.5%) had a good attitude towards maternal health care. Concerning the involvement of the men in maternal health care of their wives, about a quarter 62 (29.1%), 87 (24.0%), 98 (27.1%) ever followed their wives to family planning clinic, ante-natal clinic and the delivery room respectively. Thus, the level of awareness of men about maternal heath was high, but their involvement in giving care was poor and only about half of them had good attitude towards maternal health care. Education and awareness programs should therefore be carried out by governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and other voluntary groups to address involvement of men in maternal health care.

Key words: Perception, attitude, involvement, maternal health, reproductive health, men, women.