•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Background: The maternal mortality rate is still high in Indonesia and has not significantly decreased, including in Central Java. One indirect cause of maternal death is low husband involvement in improving mother and child health (MCH). This is due to cultural barriers and a lack of knowledge about the MCH problems. Therefore, this research aims to examine the significant factors influencing men’s involvement in MCH. We recommend an appropriate intervention model to engage them in MCH, primarily for their families and communities.

Method: This explanatory research study was conducted using a cross-sectional design involving 400 men. They were selected using multistage proportional random sampling technique from four districts in rural Central Java. The data were collected with trained enumerators using a self-administered questionnaire tested for validity and reliability. Univariate statistics, bivariate statistics using Chi-Square tests, and multivariate analysis (logistic regression) were used to analyse the data.

Results: About half of the men had sufficient knowledge, positive attitudes, and high involvement in MCH, specifically during childbirth compared to pregnancy and the postpartum period. Having experienced their wives being pregnant two or more times and having support from religious leaders, health personnel, and family were the significant factors that influenced a higher level of men’s involvement in MCH.

Conclusion: We recommend that men need MCH education that is based on their socio-cultural beliefs and facilitated by religious leaders.

Keywords: Maternal and child health, Men's experience, Men's involvement, Religious leader, Indonesia

References

[1] Demak Health Office. Demak Health Profile 2015 [cited 2022 Oct]. Available from: https://dinkes.demakkab.go.id/download/.

[2] Semarang Health Office. Semarang Health Profile 2015 [cited 2022 Oct ]. Available from: https://dinkes.semarangkota.go.id.

[3] Central Java Health Office. Provincial Health Profile 2016 [cited 2022 Oct]. Available from: https://dinkesjatengprov.go.id.

[4] Indonesia, Ministry of Health. Indonesian Health Profile 2015 [cited 2022 Oct]. Available from: https://www.kemkes.go.id.

[5] Kadir NA. Tracing the root problems of the low percentage of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia. Al-Hikmah Journal for Religious Studies 2014;15(1):114-25.

[6] Putri DPK, Lestari S. Distribution of roles in the household for Javanese husband and wife couples. Jurnal Penelitian Humaniora 2015;16(1):72-85.

[7] Kurniati A, Chen CM, Efendi F, Elizabeth Ku LJ, Berliana SM. Suami SIAGA: male engagement in maternal health in Indonesia. Health Pol Plann 2017;32(8):1203-11. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czx073.

[8] Indonesia, Ministry of Health. Indonesia health profile 2014. Jakarta: Ministry of Health; 2015.

[9] Meilani N, Shaluhiyah Z, Suryoputro A. The mother’s behavior in sexual education for early adolescent. Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Nasional 2014;8(8):411-7.

[10] Lewis S, Lee A, Simkhada P. The role of husbands in maternal health and safe childbirth in rural Nepal: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2015;15:162. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0599-8.

[11] Gibore NS, Bali TAL. Community perspectives: An exploration of potential barriers to men's involvement in maternity care in a central Tanzanian community. PLoS One 2020;15(5):e0232939. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232939.

[12] Lemeshow S. Adequacy of sample size in health studies. Chichester: J. Wiley for the World Health Organization; 1990.

[13] Sood S, Chandra U, Palmer A, Molyneux I. Measuring the effect of the SIAGA behavior change campaign in Indonesia with population-basec survey results. Baltimore, Maryland: JHPIEGO; 2004.

[14] Davis J, Vyankandondera J, Luchters S, Simon D, Holmes W. Male involvement in reproductive, maternal and child health: a qualitative study of policymaker and practitioner perspectives in the Pacific. Reprod Health 2016;13(1):81. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-016-0184-2.

[15] Galle A, De Melo M, Griffin S, Osman N, Roelens K, Degomme O. A cross-sectional study of the role of men and the knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy in southern Mozambique. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020;20(1):572. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03265-4.

[16] Chasowa S, Kandodo PK, Jack RM, Kambalu R. A study on factors hindering husbands from participating in maternal health care in Malawi. African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery 2015;2(1):66-75.

[17] August F, Pembe AB, Mpembeni R, Axemo P, Darj E. Men's knowledge of obstetric danger signs, birth preparedness and complication readiness in rural Tanzania. PLoS One 2015; 10(5):e0125978. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125978.

[18] Muji NE, Hargono A. The relationship analysis between husband’s knowledge, attitude and practice for maternal health. Jurnal Berkala Epidemiologi 2014;2(1):118-29. https://doi.org/10.20473/jbe.V2I12014.118-129.

[19] van Bemmelen ST. State of the world's fathers country report: Indonesia 2015. Washington, DC: Rutgers WPF Indonesia; 2016.

[20] Ditekemena J, Koole O, Engmann C, Matendo R, Tshefu A, Ryder R, et al. Determinants of male involvement in maternal and child health services in sub-Saharan Africa: a review. Reprod Health 2012;9:32. https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4755-9-32.

[21] Story WT, Burgard SA, Lori JR, Taleb F, Ali NA, Hoque DM. Husbands' involvement in delivery care utilization in rural Bangladesh: A qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2012;12:28. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-12-28.

[22] Tokhi M, Comrie-Thomson L, Davis J, Portela A, Chersich M, Luchters S. Involving men to improve maternal and newborn health: A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions. PLoS One 2018;13(1):e0191620. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191620.

[23] Alwar T, Favorsey R, Muigai E, Sisa P, Mwangi E, Koech E, et al. Promoting male involvement in maternal and child healthvol. 1. ICAP Kenya; 2015.

[24] Aborigo RA, Reidpath DD, Oduro AR, Allotey P. Male involvement in maternal health: perspectives of opinion leaders. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018;18(1):3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1641-9.

[25] UNFPA Indonesia. Men's engagement in UNFPA Indonesia programming. Jarkata: UNFPA; 2016.

[26] Rizkianti A, Afifah T, Saptarini I, Rakhmadi MF. Women's decision-making autonomy in the household and the use of maternal health services: An Indonesian case study. Midwifery 2020;90:102816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2020.102816.

Share

COinS