Husband participation during pregnancy and delivery: a descriptive study of knowledge, attitudes and practices of selected adult males at Dedza district hospital.
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Date
2001-04-01
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Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
This quantitative, descriptive study was conducted at Dedza District
Hospital in October 2000, to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of husbands during pregnancy and delivery. Thirty husbands, whose wives were expectant or had just experienced childbirth, were
recruited through maternity unit, using random sampling technique. In addition, the sample included sixteen women, who were wives of the husbands and were admitted in the maternity ward. A questionnaire with both open-ended and closed questions was used to collect data from the husbands while a question guide was used to conduct two sessions of focus group discussions with the women. Data analysis was done manually and by a computer Package known as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
The findings of this study revealed that participation of men during pregnancy and delivery is still very low in the hospital settings, despite the fact that some men are willing to be actively involved. The respondents were
aware that men should participate during pregnancy and delivery, but had little knowledge on how men should participate during labor. The low
knowledge level on participation of men during labor was attributed to the individual, cultural and institutional factors associated with pregnancy and labor. This implies that there should be proper dissemination of safe
motherhood information to men in-order to clarify the rumors and misconceptions that are associated with childbirth.
Results further revealed that men have a positive attitude towards pregnancy. This intrinsic motivation is a good indicator towards active participation.
Men need support from both the hospital and community settings as this enables them to make wise and timely decisions when labor starts or when complications arise. These results are expected to benefit families; nurses; nurse educators, managers, researchers and policy makers in both the government and nongovernmental settings; and other healthy care providers in improving
participation of husbands during pregnancy and delivery. In addition, the results will act as a basis for future research on involvement of men in pregnancy and delivery.