Spousal Support during Pregnancy in the Nigerian Rural Context

Background: Pregnancy constitutes a global health concern, thus the need for spousal support during this period cannot be overemphasised. This study examined the kinds of support pregnant women expected and received from their spouse as well as the effect of such supports during pregnancy, labour and delivery. MethodsThe study adopted both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The respondents were selected using multistage and simple random sampling techniques. ResultsFindings showed that respondents expected and received maximum support from their spouses during pregnancy, labour and delivery. Spiritual support such as praying and fasting were top on the kinds of support pregnant women expected and received from their husbands during pregnancy and delivery. Others include, helping in house chores, financial provision, taking care of other children, accompanying to labour room, and sexual support. More than three-quarter of the respondents stated that maximum support from their husbands made pregnancy, labour and delivery easier. Cramer’s V showed that the association between support and husbands’ occupation was 0.233 and Pearson Chi-square showed that the association was statistically significant χ 2 (2) = 27.894, p < .001. ConclusionThe study concluded that spousal support during pregnancy was high among rural women in South-western Nigeria, and it impacted positively on their wife’s period of pregnancy, labour and delivery. The high level of spousal support should be sustained so as to promote family bonding and development.