Men´s Socio-Demographic Background and Maternal Health Care Utilization in Ethiopia
PAAVILAINEN, MIIA (2013)
2013
International Health, HES
Terveystieteiden yksikkö - School of Health Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2013-09-03
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-24119
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-24119
Tiivistelmä
Maternal health care utilization in Ethiopia is very low which is reflected in high maternal mortality. Ethiopian men are known to have a strong influence on partner´s health care seeking behavior but how men´s socio-demographic background is associated with service use is largely unclear. Involving men in promoting partner´s reproductive health is considered as an effective means in patriarchal societies and it can be combined with enhancing women´s status. Tracking the characteristics that are connected to utilization of maternity services helps to target the interventions correctly.
This study aims to reveal how male partners´ socio-demographic background is associated with women´s maternal health care seeking behavior, measured by antenatal and delivery care utilization, as well as with their own participation in antenatal check-ups, andto find out the possible differences in the background characteristics that shape the use of delivery care in urban and rural areas.To this end,4 206 Ethiopian men aged 15-59 years were studied using the data fromEthiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Descriptive analyses, univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression were conducted,the latter enabling to control for confounding of the explanatory variables (age, marital status, number of children, educational level, occupation, wealth, religion, ethnicity, type of place of residence and vehicle in the household).
According to men, 57 % of their partners had had at least one antenatal visit and 12 % had delivered in an institute. Among men whose partners used antenatal care, 43 % participated in antenatal visits.Low number of children, higher educational level, better wealth and urban type of residence were associated with more frequent service utilization. In addition, occupation and ethnicity turned out to be independent predictors. Partly different factors seemed to contribute to partner´s institutional delivery in urban and rural areas.
Men´s socio-demographic characteristics are strongly connected to maternal health care utilization in Ethiopia. Raising men´s awareness is essential. Men should be integrated into reproductive health programs and targeted in all sectors when planning solutions to this life-threatening problem.
This study aims to reveal how male partners´ socio-demographic background is associated with women´s maternal health care seeking behavior, measured by antenatal and delivery care utilization, as well as with their own participation in antenatal check-ups, andto find out the possible differences in the background characteristics that shape the use of delivery care in urban and rural areas.To this end,4 206 Ethiopian men aged 15-59 years were studied using the data fromEthiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Descriptive analyses, univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression were conducted,the latter enabling to control for confounding of the explanatory variables (age, marital status, number of children, educational level, occupation, wealth, religion, ethnicity, type of place of residence and vehicle in the household).
According to men, 57 % of their partners had had at least one antenatal visit and 12 % had delivered in an institute. Among men whose partners used antenatal care, 43 % participated in antenatal visits.Low number of children, higher educational level, better wealth and urban type of residence were associated with more frequent service utilization. In addition, occupation and ethnicity turned out to be independent predictors. Partly different factors seemed to contribute to partner´s institutional delivery in urban and rural areas.
Men´s socio-demographic characteristics are strongly connected to maternal health care utilization in Ethiopia. Raising men´s awareness is essential. Men should be integrated into reproductive health programs and targeted in all sectors when planning solutions to this life-threatening problem.