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By Albert Onzoma Arua City Low male involvement in maternal health care has persisted and is affecting service delivery in the various health facilities despite several interventions put in place. Worldwide, every pregnancy faces a component of risk. Men, as p
By Albert Onzoma
Arua City
Low male involvement in maternal health care has persisted and is affecting service delivery in the various health facilities despite several interventions put in place.
Worldwide, every pregnancy faces a component of risk. Men, as partners and decision-makers, need to be involved in maternal health services.
Men accompanying their wives in routine antenatal care and other maternal health services is very important towards contributing to the reduction of maternal mortality.
Zaithun Wile a midwife working with Oli health center four maternity department outlines some of the challenges they face due to poor involvement of men in attending antenatal services.
“The supplies government gives us are not enough and cannot sustain us for two weeks or one month, we normally ask the men to provide some the few requirements especially when the womaan is being taken to the theater because we may lack them completely in the theater, all these needs spending and the presence of men during labor”
Norbert Luigi Baniyo a team leader at capacity beyond limited encourages parents to prepare their young boys for the future responsibilities at an early age.
“It’s always very important for parents to make their young boys to understand what is awaiting them in future at an early age and how they should prepare to face the responsibilities ahead of them except the roles of conjugal duties that’s the only thing we don’t encourage them to practice at an early age”
Winfred Gala a confidence coach encourages men be close to be their partners, family and be responsible.
“It’s very important for men to learn how to support their women during antenatal services, let them be there for their women and children always and that will be the best legacy a man can leave for his wife and children.”
Daniel Drileba Dratibi believes that gender based violence is the greatest contributor to the poor male involvement in antenatal services.
“As a married man, I have always been accompanying my wife for antenatal services but what I have observed from my fellow men in the neighborhood and communities is that most men fear responsibilities of extra spending and poor involvement of men in attending antenatal services is due to gender based violence at homes”
Zuleika Onyiru Shaban the in charge of Oli health center IV maternity ward encourages men to share the labor pain with their partners.
“My advice to men is that as much as they struggle with accompanying their wives for antenatal services I want to encourage them to come with their wives when labor time comes because sharing the labor pain together will create very strong bond between them.”
Men have a lot of influence on their partners' and children's health. However, studies have shown their involvement in antenatal care and postnatal care is relatively low owing to several factors.