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.