Aims: In spite of its associated positive outcomes for maternal and child health, male partner
involvement continues to be low in Uganda. This study sought to assess determinants of male
involvement (MI) in antenatal care (ANC) in a Ugandan sub-urban context as well as the proportion
of male partners who are consistently involved in ANC.
Place and Duration of Study: This was a descriptive cross-sectional community-based survey
with both quantitative and qualitative approaches conducted in Makindye sub-county, a peri-urban
area in central Uganda, between August and October 2015.
Materials and Methods: Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Data were
collected from 384 males aged 18 - 49 years whose wife had given birth to at least one child and
below two years of age. In addition 21 key informants were also purposively selected for the
qualitative strand.
Results: Male involvement in ANC was found to be very low (6%) and attributed to sociodemographic
factors such as education (p=0.000), marriage (p=0.001) and age (p=0.044) which
were found to increase ANC involvement while lower income earnings (p =0.023) decreased MI
levels. Inconsistent participation in ANC is increased by: not living together with their spouses
during pregnancy (OR-3.474, p-0.012); family members living with male partners and their spouses
(OR-4.122, p-0.001); family members influencing male partners’ decision to get involved in ANC
(OR-5.421, p-0.001); unplanned pregnancies (OR-8.935, p-0.001); peer influence (OR-3.614, p-
0.036); and limited male involvement in deciding where spouses attend ANC (4.245, p-0.009).
Health worker attitude (p=0.001), waiting time (p=0.001) and cost of antenatal services (P=0.003)
were significantly associated with male involvement in ANC.
Conclusion: Study findings confirmed low MI in ANC with explanatory factors being social,
economic and system related. Interventions need to focus on continued sensitization and dialogue
especially with and among men; support income generating initiatives and address health system
barriers to male involvement.