Journeying together for antenatal care as a couple would increase safety for the inborn baby. Accordingly, the World Health Organisation recommends that women should atleast have four antenatal care visits.
However most recent studies indicate that there is still low involvement of men in antenatal care especicially within the African region.
Some of the barriers that may be hindering men from participating in antenatal care were:
- Some men are shy and fear to be seen by their friends while accompanying their wives for antenatal care.
- High costs to transport the couple at once especially for people who live far away from the facilities.
- Some men complain of busy schedules.
- Traditionally, some men think that pregnancy and antenatal care are a female matter.
- Fear of rude nurses and their questions.
Men’s involvement in antenatal care helps in protecting the safety of the inborn baby by:
- It eases planning in terms of a couple being guided on which hospital and doctors that are required for the safe birth of the baby.
- A couple is guided on how best a pregnant woman can be fed which helps the inborn baby to grow healthy.
- A couple will be given free mosquito nets (especially in government health centres)which helps to prevent malaria that kills most pregnant women and babies. Note that most women would fear to carry a mosquito net without their husbands’ acknowledgement if they have attended ANC alone.
Ignatious Asasira a third year student of Medicine and Surgery at Makerere University gives more highlight on antenatal care. He gives further information on the involvement of men in antenatal care.
Indeed, men’s participation in antenatal care contributes greatly to the safety of the baby. Efforts should therefore be directed towards addressing men’s attitudes and beliefs about antenatal care. Thus in terms of radio and television adverts,as well as emphasizing advanced training for nurses to handle couples well at health centers to motivate more men to attend antenatal care.
Healthy Baby 