Demographic factors related to male involvement in reproductive health care services in Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives Men play a well-recognised role in reproductive health care. They are pertinent to the achievement of female reproductive health. This study assessed male involvement in reproductive health issues in Nigeria and identified relevant factors.

Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 1530 married men aged 25 to 45 years selected by a multi-stage sampling procedure. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed, with male involvement in reproductive health care as the dependent variable.

Results The mean age of the respondents was 38.64 (± 5 SD) years. Although 65.9% of the respondents discussed reproductive health issues with their wife, only 39.6% accompanied them during visits to clinics. Less than one-third (30.9%) of the respondents were involved in reproductive health care. Male involvement in reproductive health care is predicted by having completed at least secondary education (OR 4.337; p = 0.007), having one or no living child (OR 2.002; p = 0.001), and approval of family planning (OR 2.637; p = 0.000).

Conclusions Male involvement in reproductive health care is predicted by level of education, number of living children and approval of family planning. There is a need to focus on the identified factors in order to strengthen and increase male participation in reproductive health care.

Abstract

摘 要 目的 男性在生殖保健过程中起着公认的重要作用，他们和女性生殖健康取得的成就有关。本研究对尼日利亚男性参与生殖保健的相关问题进行评估并确定其相关因素。

方法本研究选择横断面研究，通过多阶抽样选择25-45岁已婚男性1530例，男性是否参与生殖保健作为因变量，应用二元回归和logistic回归分析。

结果 受访者平均年龄38.64±5岁，尽管65.9%的受访者和他们的妻子讨论生殖健康问题，仅仅有39.6%的人陪伴他们的妻子去诊所。不到1/3（30.9%）的受访者参与生殖保健。男性是否参与生殖保健可以通过以下因素预测：至少完成中学教育(OR4.337; p=0.007)、有一个或者没有孩子(OR2.002; p=0.001)以及赞成计划生育(OR2.637; p=0.000)。

结论 男性是否参与生殖保健可以通过受教育程度、子女数目和赞成计划生育等因素预测。需要关注这些已知的因素以强化和增加男性对于生殖保健的参与。

Keywords:

• Male involvement
• Nigeria
• Reproductive health care

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.