title: Birth preparedness, complication readiness and fathers' participation in maternity care in a northern Nigerian community.
abstract: The role of men in maternity care in Africa is understudied, despite their economic dominance and decision making power. In a patriarchal society like northern Nigeria, pregnancy and childbirth are often regarded as exclusively women's affairs. Using data from interviewer administered questionnaires and in-depth interviews; we assessed birth preparedness, complication readiness and male participation in maternity care in Ungogo, a northern Nigerian community. Majority of pregnancies were unplanned (96%). Only 32.1% of men ever accompanied their spouses for maternity care. There was very little preparation for skilled assistance during delivery (6.2%), savings for emergencies (19.5%) or transportation during labour (24.2%). Young paternal age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-2.6), formal education (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI=1.1-3.4) and non-Hausa Fulani ethnicity (AOR=2.3, 95% CI = 1.4-3.3) were independent predictors of male participation in maternity care. There is a need to increase involvement of men in their partner's maternity care through peer-led, culturally-sensitive community education and appropriate health system reforms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. ziliyasu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Zubairu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iliyasu
authors.forename: Isa S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Abubakar
authors.forename: Hadiza S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Galadanci
authors.forename: Muktar H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Aliyu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004522:Educational Status; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D036801:Parturition; D010331:Paternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D055815:Young Adult