Engaging the Other Half: Sociodemographic Insights for Strengthening Male Involvement in Antenatal Care

Engaging the Other Half: Sociodemographic Insights for Strengthening Male Involvement in Antenatal Care | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Engaging the Other Half: Sociodemographic Insights for Strengthening Male Involvement in Antenatal Care Tonnies Abeku Buckman, Joseph Teye Nuertey, Willams Adu, Samuel Asamoah Sakyi, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8901026/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Male involvement in antenatal care (ANC) is vital to improving maternal health outcomes, yet remains limited in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. This study explores how sociodemographic factors influence male awareness, attitudes, and participation in ANC within Denkyembour District, Ghana. Method Using a cross-sectional design and structured questionnaires administered via the KOBO Collect app, data were gathered from 350 male respondents who were either partners of pregnant women or fathers of children under one year. Results Findings reveal high levels of awareness (92.9%) and participation (75.4%) in ANC, with most men perceiving their involvement as motivational for their partners. However, barriers such as occupational demands (40%), distance to health facilities (37.7%), and financial constraints (10%) hinder consistent engagement. Sociodemographic variables, including age, education, occupation, marital status, and religion, were significantly associated (p < 0.00001) with willingness to attend ANC in the future. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of culturally sensitive and structurally appropriate interventions that encourage male involvement in maternal health, thereby helping to reduce maternal mortality in Ghana and similar settings. Antenatal care Male Involvement Maternal Health Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 1.0 Introduction Antenatal care is a routine clinical practice that ensures the safety and well-being of both mothers and fetuses. However, maternal mortality remains one of the most critical challenges to maternal safety and survival [ 1 ]. According to the UN interagency estimates, the global maternal mortality ratio in 2020 was estimated at 223 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births [ 2 ]. Similarly, the WHO (2020) reported that 1 in 180 pregnant women die during childbirth in sub-Saharan Africa compared to 1 in 4,900 in developed countries, indicating that more women die from live births in developing countries, with the majority in sub-Saharan Africa compared to developed countries [ 2 ]. Following Sustainable Development Goal 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality rate to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 (WHO, 2023), it is crucial to identify the factors contributing to this maternal mortality rate (MMRs). Studies have reported contributing factors, including weak health systems, limited access, and minimal utilization of health services [ 3 ]. Among these factors, the low involvement of men during antennal care has been reported to be a major contributing factor that is often overlooked [ 1 , 3 ]. Research suggests that in Sub-Saharan African cultures, where patriarchy is a core value, men hold the ultimate decision and provision in most families, which influences their active involvement in ANC and subsequent reduction in MMR [ 1 ]. Given these alarming statistics, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, it is prudent to encourage the concept of engaging men in antenatal care, which may help reduce the high MMR in developing countries. A study conducted at the University of Ghana demonstrated that male involvement improved birth preparedness and complication readiness [ 4 ], indicating the significant impact of male involvement on antenatal care and as a strategy to mitigate maternal mortality. Additionally, men who accompanied their partners to ANC showed strong emotional support [ 5 ]. Interestingly, it has also been shown that men who mostly accompany their partners to ANC visits do not actively engage with health workers [ 5 ]. This underscores the need for men, along with their pregnant partners, to improve their knowledge of maternal and neonatal health issues, which are favorable for reproductive health outcomes [ 1 ]. Therefore, it is also important to determine the factors that challenge men’s involvement and active engagement in ANC. A study conducted in Ghana revealed that most men shy away from their involvement in ANC because of societal mockery associated with the term locally known in Ghana as “Salomey”, where men found in this capacity are seen as more feminine [ 6 ]. Although there is a high awareness of men’s involvement in ANC, their engagement remains limited across many communities in Ghana. Additionally, few studies have examined how sociodemographic factors influence men’s attitudes towards and active engagement in ANC in Ghana. Hence, this study investigated how sociodemographic factors impact the level of awareness of men, their attitude, and participation in antenatal care, and also identified cultural barriers that influence their participation. 2.0 Methods 2.1 Study Design/ Setting A cross-sectional study design and structured questionnaire were used for the project's execution; this strategy was chosen since it made it simpler to get exact data on male involvement in ANC attendance at a given time. This study was conducted in the Denkyembour District, situated within the Eastern Region of the Republic of Ghana. This District is one of the 33 Districts/Municipalities that collectively form the Eastern Region. Birim North, Akyemansa, East Akim District, Suhum/Kraboa/Coatal, West Akim, Kwaebibirem and Birim Central Municipality formed its western, eastern, northern and southern borders, respectively. Figure 1 : Map showing Denkyembour District Eastern Region, Ghana 2.3 Study Population The study was conducted between May to August,2025. Participants consisted of adult men who were district residents and were either married, divorced, or single, but who had children under the age of one year or whose spouses were pregnant at the time of the study. 2.4 Inclusion Criteria The study included men who were husbands or partners of pregnant women or those who had had a child within the last 12 months, were residents of Denkyembour District, and were willing to voluntarily provide informed consent to participate in the study. 2.5 Exclusion Criteria Men who did not have a pregnant partner or child within the past 12 months were excluded from the study. Additionally, non-resident men in Denkyembour District were not eligible to participate. The study also excluded men who refused to provide informed consent or were unwilling to participate in the research. 2.6 Sample Size The sample size was determined using a single proportion population formula with the following assumptions: 69% male involvement in ANC (Mapunda et al., 2022), 5% level of significance, and 5% as the margin of error, calculated as follows using Cochran's sample size formula (Cochran, 1977): $$\:N=\frac{{z}^{2}\left(p\right(1-p)}{{D}^{2}}$$ Where N= sample size, Z= statistic for a level of confidence = 1.96, P= expected proportion = 0.69, D= Precision = 0.05 Substituting; N = \(\:{\left(1.96\right)}^{2}*\frac{0.69(1-0.69)}{{\left(0.05\right)}^{2}}\) =329 Adding 5% for missing or incomplete data gave a final sample size of 345. However, 5 more respondents were added, making it 350 respondents in all. 2.7 Sampling Techniques Two main sampling techniques were used in this study: simple random sampling and purposive sampling. Simple random sampling was employed to select communities and male partners from identified households. This ensured that every eligible household and individual within the selected communities had an equal chance of being included in the study, thus minimizing selection bias and enhancing representativeness. Purposive sampling was employed at two levels: first, in the selection of sub-districts and health facilities based on their ANC activity and accessibility; and second, in the selection of midwives directly involved in antenatal care services. These midwives played a key role in administering questionnaires to male partners who were already accompanying their partners to ANC clinics, providing insight into the experiences and involvement of supportive men. 2.8 Sampling Procedure This study adopted a multistage sampling procedure to select participants from both the community and health facility levels within the Denkyembour District. In the first stage, sub-districts within Denkyembour District were selected purposively based on the presence of functioning antenatal care services and accessibility for data collection. In the second stage, communities within the selected sub-districts were randomly selected using simple random sampling, that is through balloting from a list provided by the District Health Directorate or the Sub-District. From each selected community, households with pregnant women or children less than 12 months were identified, and male partners were selected using simple random sampling. At the health facility level, facilities offering ANC services in the selected sub-districts were included purposively. Within these facilities, midwives were purposively recruited to assist in administering questionnaires to male partners who accompanied their partners for ANC visits. This method ensured that respondents with direct experience and involvement in ANC were targeted while also promoting practical feasibility in data collection. 2.9 Recruitment of Participants Participants for this study were recruited from two main sources: households within selected communities and health facilities across the sub-districts of Denkyembour District. For community-based data collection, male partners of pregnant women or children less than 12 months were identified and selected through a house-to-house approach. Simple random sampling was employed using a household list obtained from community health volunteers or the sub-district records to ensure that all eligible households had an equal chance of inclusion. Upon visiting selected households, the purpose of the study was explained, and willing male partners were invited to participate after informed consent was obtained. At the health facilities, health workers, particularly midwives, were recruited to assist in administering the questionnaire to male partners who accompanied their pregnant partners to antenatal care services. This approach ensured that data were collected directly from men who were actively involved in the antenatal care process. Midwives were selected purposively based on their roles in ANC service delivery and their availability. All participants were informed of the purpose of the study, and their consent was sought before participation. 2.10 Data Collection Instrument Data were collected using the KOBO Collect app, an open-source mobile data collection tool widely adopted in field-based research across resource-constrained settings. The app was linked to the KOBO server, where a pre-coded structured questionnaire was designed and deployed. KOBO Collect allows for offline data entry on Android devices, making it particularly suitable for rural and peri-urban environments with intermittent internet access. Its use has been documented in various studies. [ 7 ] [ 8 ]. In this study, KOBO Collect enabled the integration of data quality controls, such as mandatory fields and skip logic, which minimized entry errors and enhanced consistency. The questionnaire, designed in English and administered in local languages, comprised closed-ended items focused on sociodemographic characteristics, awareness, attitudes, and barriers to male involvement in antenatal care. Data were synced to the KOBO server once internet connectivity was available, ensuring secure and centralized storage for subsequent analysis. 2.11 Data Management and Statistical Analysis Data obtained was rechecked, cleaned, and sent to the KOBO server. An Excel database containing the aggregated data was downloaded from the server and exported to SPSS 29.0 for statistical analysis. Analyses such as mean, median, and frequencies were calculated. Additionally, a T-test was conducted to compare quantitative variables. All statistical analyses were conducted at a 5% level of significance (p < 0.05) , ensuring that observed associations between sociodemographic variables and male involvement in ANC were statistically meaningful and not due to chance. 3.0 Results 3.1 Sociodemographic Data of Participants. The sociodemographic data of the 350 participants indicate that the majority were aged between 25 and 34 years (44.3%), followed by those aged 35–44 years (38.6%), with fewer participants under 25 years (11.1%) and 45 years or older (6%). Most respondents were Christians (68.3%), while Muslims and Traditionalists made up 18.6% and 13.1%, respectively. In terms of education, more than half had tertiary education (55.1%), and a smaller proportion had only primary education (4.9%). The dominant occupation was public service (58.9%), followed by trading (26.9%) and farming (12%), with few participants working as fishermen (2.3%). Most women were married (78%), while 17.7% were single, and very few were widowed (2%) or divorced/separated (2.3%). Regarding parity, nearly half had two children (49.7%), 38.9% had one child, and only 11.1% had three or more children (Table 4.1 ). Table 4.1 Sociodemographic Data of Participants. Variable Frequency (n = 350) Percentage (%) Age Less than 25 years 39 11.1 25–34 years 155 44.3 35-44years 135 38.6 45 and above 21 6 Religion Christians 239 68.3 Muslim 65 18.6 Traditionalist 46 13.1 Education Primary 17 4.9 JSH 43 12.3 SHS 97 27.7 Tertiary 193 55.1 Occupation Farmer 42 12 Public servant 206 58.9 Fisherman 8 2.3 Trader 94 26.9 Marital Status Single 62 17.7 Married 273 78 Widowed 7 2 Divorced/separated 8 2.3 Number of Children One 136 38.9 Two 174 49.7 Three or more 40 11.1 3.2 Level of Male Participation in ANC. The results show a high level of male awareness and participation in antenatal care (ANC) among the 350 respondents. A majority (92.9%) had heard about ANC, with health professionals (50.3%) and wives (33.4%) being the main sources of information. Most men (75.4%) reported accompanying their spouses to ANC visits, and among those, 59.1% did so twice, while 25% went once and 15.9% three or more times. Additionally, 77.4% of participants said their partners permitted them to accompany them to ANC, indicating supportive relationships. Importantly, 82.9% believed that their involvement could motivate their partners to attend ANC, reflecting positive attitudes toward male participation in maternal healthcare (Table 4.2 ). Table 4.2 Level of Male Participation in ANC. Variable Frequency (n = 350) Percentage (%) Heard about ANC Yes 325 92.9 No 25 7.1 Source of Information about ANC Husband of another woman 0 0 Wife 117 33.4 Health Professional 176 50.3 Friend/Relative 57 16.3 Did you accompany your spouse ever to the ANC Yes 264 75.4 No 86 24.6 How many times (n = 264) Once 66 25 Twice 156 59.1 Three or more 42 15.9 Does your partner permit you to accompany her to the ANC Yes 271 77.4 No 79 22.6 Do you think accompanying your partner to ANC will motivate her to attend Yes 290 82.9 No 10 2.9 Not Sure 50 14.3 3.3. Barriers to Male’s Participation in ANC Attendance. The results indicate that the main barriers preventing men from attending antenatal care (ANC) are largely practical and work-related. The most commonly reported barrier was the nature of their occupation (40%), followed closely by the distance to ANC centers (37.7%), highlighting logistical and time constraints. Financial difficulties were cited by 10% of respondents, suggesting that economic limitations also hinder male involvement. A smaller proportion attributed their absence to cultural beliefs (4.9%) and the perceived bad attitude of midwives (7.4%), indicating that while socio-cultural and interpersonal factors play a role, they are less prominent than occupational and accessibility challenges (Fig. 4.1). 3.4. Factors Preventing Male’s Participation in ANC Attendance. The findings reveal that while male involvement in ANC is generally positive, several factors influence their level of participation. Decision-making about ANC attendance is mostly joint (74.3%), though some households see it as the husband's (11.7%) or wife's (14%) sole decision. When women refuse ANC, the majority of men (77.1%) claim they would compel their partners to attend. A substantial proportion (73.4%) had accompanied their partners during previous pregnancies, and 81.1% indicated they are likely to do so in future pregnancies. Most men (86.9%) view their role in ANC as significant, and 83.1% believe it is acceptable to escort their partners. However, 68.9% reported that time spent at ANC is a barrier. Despite this, a high percentage (86%) believe men should learn more about ANC. Financial and logistical factors also play a role—69.7% of partners request money before attending ANC, and 70.3% use vehicles to get there. Encouragingly, 78% of men supervise their partners' medication intake, and 91.7% understand the importance of nutrient-rich foods, with most sourcing them from markets (72.3%) or their farms (21.2%). These results highlight both strong male engagement and practical barriers that should be addressed to enhance male participation in maternal health (Table 4.3 ). Table 4.3 Factors Preventing Male’s Participation in ANC Attendance. Variable Frequency (n = 350) Percentage (%) Who decides if a pregnant woman goes ANC Husband 41 11.7 Wife 49 14 Both 260 74.3 What do you do if the woman refuses to attend ANC Allow her to stay at home 80 22.9 Force her to go 270 77.1 Did you ever accompany your partner to an ANC (Previous Pregnancies) Yes 257 73.4 No 93 26.6 Is it likely for you to accompany your partner to ANC (Future Pregnancies) Likely 284 81.1 Unlikely 66 18.9 What is your perception about the role men should play in ANC Significant role 304 86.9 Insignificant role 46 13.1 Is it acceptable to escort your partner to ANC Yes 291 83.1 No 59 16.9 Do you spend more time at ANC Yes 241 68.9 No 109 31.1 Is it important for men to learn more about ANC Yes 301 86 No 49 14 Does your partner demand money before going to ANC Yes 244 69.7 No 106 30.3 By what means does she go to the ANC center Vehicle 246 70.3 Walking 104 29.7 Do you supervise your partner in taking her ANC-given drugs Yes 273 78 No 77 22 Do you know is required for every pregnant woman to eat nutrient-rich foods Yes 321 91.7 No 29 8.3 If yes, how does she get those foods (n = 321) From our farm 68 78.8 Buying from the market 253 72.3 3.5 Association Between Sociodemographic Data and Willingness to Attend ANC in Future. The results in Table 4.4 show a statistically significant association (p < 0.00001) between various sociodemographic factors and men's willingness to accompany their spouses to antenatal care (ANC) in the future. Among those likely to attend, the majority were aged 25–34 years (130; 45.8%) and 35–44 years (111; 39.1%), while fewer were below 25 years (22; 7.7%) or 45 and above (21; 7.4%). In contrast, 25.8% of those unlikely to attend were under 25, 37.9% were 25–34, and 36.4% were 35–44. Christians represented the highest proportion of those willing (215; 75.7%), followed by Muslims (48; 16.9%) and Traditionalists (21; 7.4%); however, 37.9% of those unwilling were Traditionalists. Education was a strong predictor: 59.5% of willing participants had tertiary education, 31.7% SHS, 6.3% JHS, and 2.5% primary, while 37.9% of the unwilling had only JHS, and 15.2% had primary education. Public servants made up the majority of those likely to accompany their spouse (182; 64.1%), followed by traders (77; 27.1%), farmers (17; 6.0%), and fishermen (8; 2.8%); notably, 37.9% of those unwilling were farmers. Marital status also showed significance, with 83.1% of the likely group being married, while 43.9% of the unwilling were single. Finally, 57.7% of men willing to attend had three or more children, 31.7% had two, and 10.6% had one child. In contrast, 69.7% of those unwilling to attend had only two children. These findings highlight that age, religion, education, occupation, marital status, and number of children significantly influence men’s willingness to support their partners in attending ANC (Table 4.4 ). Table 4.4 Association Between Sociodemographic Data and Willingness to Attend ANC in Future. Accompanying spouse to ANC in the furture Variable Likely Unlikely P-Value Age < 0.00001 Less than 25 years 22(7.7%) 17(25.8%) 25–34 years 130(45.8%) 25(37.9%) 35-44years 111(39.1%) 24(36.4%) 45 and above 21(7.4%) 0(0.0%) Religion < 0.00001 Christians 215(75.7%) 24(36.4%) Muslim 48(16.9%) 17(25.8%) Traditionalist 21(7.4%) 25(37.9%) Education < 0.00001 Primary 7(2.5%) 10(15.2%) JSH 18(6.3%) 25(37.9%) SHS 90(31.7%) 7(10.6%) Tertiary 169(59.5%) 24(36.4%) Occupation < 0.00001 Farmer 17(6.0%) 25(37.9%) Public servant 182(64.1%) 24(36.4%) Fisherman 8(2.8%) 0(0.0%) Trader 77(27.1%) 17(25.8%) Marital Status < 0.00001 Single 33(11.6%) 29(43.9%) Married 236(83.1%) 37(56.1%) Widowed 7(2.5%) 0(0.0%) Divorced/separated 8(2.8%) 0(0.0%) Number of Children < 0.00001 One 30(10.6%) 10(15.2%) Two 90(31.7%) 46(69.7%) Three or more 164(57.7%) 10(15.2%) 4.0 Discussion Globally, male involvement in maternal health has emerged as a critical determinant of the success of maternal and child health (MCH) interventions [ 9 – 11 ]. A growing body of literature underscores the transformative potential of male engagement, particularly in patriarchal settings such as Ghana, where decision-making authority and resource control are often concentrated in the hands of men [ 12 ]. Despite this recognized importance, male participation in antenatal care (ANC) remains disproportionately low across low- and middle-income countries, especially within Sub-Saharan Africa [ 13 ]. The dearth of localized research on this subject, especially in the Ghanaian context, necessitated the present study, which sought to elucidate the sociodemographic and contextual factors shaping male involvement in ANC. The sociodemographic profile of the 350 respondents reveals a predominantly youthful and educated cohort, with the majority aged 25–44 years and over half holding tertiary qualifications. Public sector employment was most common (58.9%), and marital union was the normative status (78%). These foundational characteristics offer useful interpretive context for the subsequent analyses on attitudes and engagement. Our findings demonstrate a commendably high level of male awareness and participation in ANC services. Nearly 93% of participants were familiar with ANC, chiefly informed by health professionals and spouses, while over 75% had accompanied their partners at least once. Notably, 82.9% perceived their presence as a motivational factor in their partners’ attendance. These statistics reflect not only widespread knowledge but also a constructive orientation toward shared responsibility in maternal health. The prevalence of spousal support (77.4%) in permitting male presence further reflects evolving gender norms around caregiving roles in reproductive health. This contradict the general notion and the reports by most researchers that Ghanaian men are unwilling to attend ANC with their partners [ 14 , 15 ]. However, these positive attitudes are tempered by persistent barriers to consistent participation. Our findings point chiefly to structural and occupational impediments: demanding work schedules (40%) and geographic inaccessibility (37.7%) were the most frequently cited deterrents. Financial strain, although less prominent (10%), also factored into decision-making, while socio-cultural beliefs and perceptions of unfriendly midwife behaviour accounted for a minority of responses. These insights align with those of Boadi et al. (2023), Annoon et al. (2020), and Kumbeni et al. (2019), all of whom emphasize the primacy of logistical and economic barriers over cultural ones in hindering male ANC involvement [ 11 , 13 , 14 ]. Importantly, the study reveals a nuanced portrait of men’s roles and behavioural intentions. Joint decision-making around ANC attendance was reported by 74.3% of respondents, signalling a shift from unilateral control toward relational negotiation. While 77.1% asserted they would compel unwilling partners to attend ANC, this assertion may reflect entrenched gender dynamics that merit further ethical scrutiny. Encouragingly, 81.1% expressed willingness to participate in future ANC visits, and a striking majority affirmed the importance of male learning and presence in maternal care. Furthermore, male contributions extended beyond physical presence, most men were involved in drug supervision and dietary support, reinforcing a broader conceptualization of fatherhood and caregiving. From a predictive standpoint, sociodemographic variables emerged as statistically significant correlates (p < 0.00001) of willingness to attend ANC in the future. Education stood out as a strong enabler, those with tertiary backgrounds were more likely to engage. Similarly, occupational type, religion, and marital status played influential roles. Notably, public servants and married men were more represented among the "likely to attend" group. These associations echo the conclusions drawn by Boadi et al. (2023) and Sam et al. (2024), who documented the strong linkage between education, economic status, and ANC engagement [ 13 , 16 ]. In sum, the findings illustrate a dual narrative: one of growing male awareness and commitment to ANC and another of enduring structural barriers. Future interventions must therefore address not only knowledge gaps but also systemic constraints such as inflexible work schedules, travel distance, and service delivery inefficiencies. Strengthening male involvement in ANC must be approached as both a behavioural and infrastructural challenge, requiring responsive policies, community engagement, and service redesign attuned to the lived realities of men in Ghana and similar settings. 5.0 Conclusion This study confirms that while male involvement in antenatal care in Ghana is encouragingly high, it is significantly shaped by sociodemographic factors such as age, education, occupation, marital status, and religion. Despite strong awareness and supportive attitudes, participation is often hindered by practical challenges like work demands, distance to health facilities, and financial constraints. Addressing these systemic barriers through inclusive policies and targeted interventions is essential for fostering sustained male engagement and enhancing maternal and child health outcomes. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Ethical Approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KAAF/IRB/AP/11/25). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants and documented from their medical records. This study was conducted in accordance with the core principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent of publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Clinical Trial Number Not applicable Funding No funding was obtained for this study. Author Contribution TAB, JTN, WA, EOB, SAS, and LOB participated in Conceptualization, Investigation and Methodology. TB, AMA, AOB and LOB participated in Data curation and TB, JTN, MHA and FEG, participated in Formal analysis and writing, reviewing, and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Data Availability The datasets during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. References Alemi S, et al. Male participation in antenatal care and its influence on their pregnant partners’ reproductive health care utilization: insight from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey. J Biosoc Sci. 2021;53(3):436–58. WHO. Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2020: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and UNDESA/Population Division. World Health Organization; 2023. Abebe GF, et al. Male involvement in antenatal care follow-up and its determinants in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ open. 2024;14(12):e083492. Blay AB. Determinants of Male Partner Involvement in Antenatal Care and Its Effect on Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness in New Juaben North Municipality of Eastern Region. University of Ghana; 2023. Ampim GA, et al. I came to escort someone: Men’s experiences of antenatal care services in urban Ghana—a qualitative study. Reproductive health. 2021;18(1):106. Yabotsi SF, Awotsitsi M. They Call Me Salomey: Factors Influencing Male Involvement In Antenatal Care Services In The Ho Municipality, Ghana. University of Cape Coast; 2024. Gangopadhyay D, Roy R, Roy K. From Pen to Pixel: Exploring Kobo Toolbox as a modern approach to smart data collection. Food Sci Rep. 2024;5(5):8–13. Vinck PPaP. KoBoToolbox Harvard Humanitarian Initiative . 2005; Available from: https://hhi.harvard.edu/kobotoolbox Doegah PT. Investigating male presence at antenatal and choice of place for child delivery in Ghana. Front Public Health. 2019;7:300. Guspianto IN, Ibnu, Asyary A. Associated factors of male participation in antenatal care in Muaro Jambi District, Indonesia. J Pregnancy. 2022;2022(1):6842278. Kumbeni MT, et al. Factors influencing male involvement in antenatal care in the Kassena Nankana Municipal in the Upper East Region, Ghana. Eur Sci J. 2019;15(21):3. Mohammed S, Yakubu I, Awal I. Sociodemographic factors associated with women’s perspectives on male involvement in antenatal care, labour, and childbirth. J pregnancy. 2020;2020(1):6421617. Boadi C et al. Interplay of sociodemographic factors and antenatal care attendance with free maternal care policy: a case study of Ghana. BMJ Public Health, 2023. 1(1). Annoon Y et al. Perception of pregnant women on barriers to male involvement in antenatal care in Sekondi, Ghana. Heliyon, 2020. 6(7). Unawari PN, et al. Male Involvement in the Maternal Health Care: Expectations of Pregnant Women in Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Open J Nurs. 2023;13(1):1–21. Sam NB, Aboyine T, Tackie-Otoo T. Examining the Multifaceted Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization in Ghana Using Structural Equation Modelling. ESI Preprints (European Scientific Journal, ESJ), 2024. 20(36): pp. 1–1. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 05 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 14 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 23 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 23 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 17 Feb, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8901026","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":622960354,"identity":"a3551676-84ae-488f-aa6b-ab45cd706bf6","order_by":0,"name":"Tonnies Abeku Buckman","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAvklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLCCBCDiZ2BgI041D0yLZANJWkC6DA4Qq8WevffYgwcVdXnGN5KfPfhQwSDPL3aAgC0859INEs4cLja7kWZuOOMMg+HM2QkEtEjkmEkkth1I3HYjwUyatw3owttEaflXl7h5Rvo3UrQ0MCduADKI1HLmjJlEwrHDxRJn3pRJzjgjQdgv7O09ZpI/aury+NvTt0l8qLCR55cmoAUBBMAqJYhVDgL8B0hRPQpGwSgYBSMJAADViD/QRXAaZwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"KAAF University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tonnies","middleName":"Abeku","lastName":"Buckman","suffix":""},{"id":622960355,"identity":"219832dc-aba6-4557-862a-d7c1b989c17c","order_by":1,"name":"Joseph Teye Nuertey","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"KAAF University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Joseph","middleName":"Teye","lastName":"Nuertey","suffix":""},{"id":622960356,"identity":"47828f4f-5284-49c3-b723-275c0a00a9bc","order_by":2,"name":"Willams Adu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Salvation Army Clinic","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Willams","middleName":"","lastName":"Adu","suffix":""},{"id":622960357,"identity":"48d393c9-38c2-4007-b4d2-a047c34e3eee","order_by":3,"name":"Samuel Asamoah Sakyi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Samuel","middleName":"Asamoah","lastName":"Sakyi","suffix":""},{"id":622960358,"identity":"297a9f1b-fa25-4e77-ba73-72136b278adc","order_by":4,"name":"Lawrence Owusu Brenya","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Louisiana State University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lawrence","middleName":"Owusu","lastName":"Brenya","suffix":""},{"id":622960359,"identity":"e7fff2ce-2ca7-4869-9163-10cfb1c9b170","order_by":5,"name":"Akwasi Minnah Addei","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Akwasi","middleName":"Minnah","lastName":"Addei","suffix":""},{"id":622960360,"identity":"b82f2f03-91b2-4146-8426-0488a08b2d44","order_by":6,"name":"Andy Opoku Boateng","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Garden City University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Andy","middleName":"Opoku","lastName":"Boateng","suffix":""},{"id":622960361,"identity":"cc4ce43a-9de0-4630-bd98-c1dc49945ab0","order_by":7,"name":"Maxwell Hurbert Antwi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Koforidua Technical University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Maxwell","middleName":"Hurbert","lastName":"Antwi","suffix":""},{"id":622960362,"identity":"df3a870f-1cf2-4235-b8c2-dc122bf74cce","order_by":8,"name":"Frank Enock Gyamfi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Holy Family Hospital","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Frank","middleName":"Enock","lastName":"Gyamfi","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-17 12:25:26","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8901026/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8901026/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":107500453,"identity":"ac4f0c61-65ef-4476-bbba-322ce474a4bf","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-22 05:47:08","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":395779,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMap showing Denkyembour District Eastern Region, Ghana\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8901026/v1/7dc3b52931860e5783d92aaa.png"},{"id":107500454,"identity":"04623cff-d257-42af-a058-4c1dd6f16dea","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-22 05:47:08","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":151551,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eAn illustration of the barriers that inhibits male participation in antenatal clinic attendance.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8901026/v1/9ac72c2227a73c471068bd70.png"},{"id":107705189,"identity":"ae6719f0-ca39-4831-9bde-9a390cc1dd6e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-24 09:09:13","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":987564,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8901026/v1/e60ae939-e189-4d96-80aa-25a838b3fa1f.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Engaging the Other Half: Sociodemographic Insights for Strengthening Male Involvement in Antenatal Care","fulltext":[{"header":"1.0 Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eAntenatal care is a routine clinical practice that ensures the safety and well-being of both mothers and fetuses. However, maternal mortality remains one of the most critical challenges to maternal safety and survival [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. According to the UN interagency estimates, the global maternal mortality ratio in 2020 was estimated at 223 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. Similarly, the WHO (2020) reported that 1 in 180 pregnant women die during childbirth in sub-Saharan Africa compared to 1 in 4,900 in developed countries, indicating that more women die from live births in developing countries, with the majority in sub-Saharan Africa compared to developed countries [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. Following Sustainable Development Goal 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality rate to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 (WHO, 2023), it is crucial to identify the factors contributing to this maternal mortality rate (MMRs).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudies have reported contributing factors, including weak health systems, limited access, and minimal utilization of health services [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. Among these factors, the low involvement of men during antennal care has been reported to be a major contributing factor that is often overlooked [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. Research suggests that in Sub-Saharan African cultures, where patriarchy is a core value, men hold the ultimate decision and provision in most families, which influences their active involvement in ANC and subsequent reduction in MMR [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Given these alarming statistics, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, it is prudent to encourage the concept of engaging men in antenatal care, which may help reduce the high MMR in developing countries. A study conducted at the University of Ghana demonstrated that male involvement improved birth preparedness and complication readiness [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e], indicating the significant impact of male involvement on antenatal care and as a strategy to mitigate maternal mortality. Additionally, men who accompanied their partners to ANC showed strong emotional support [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. Interestingly, it has also been shown that men who mostly accompany their partners to ANC visits do not actively engage with health workers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. This underscores the need for men, along with their pregnant partners, to improve their knowledge of maternal and neonatal health issues, which are favorable for reproductive health outcomes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Therefore, it is also important to determine the factors that challenge men\u0026rsquo;s involvement and active engagement in ANC.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA study conducted in Ghana revealed that most men shy away from their involvement in ANC because of societal mockery associated with the term locally known in Ghana as \u0026ldquo;Salomey\u0026rdquo;, where men found in this capacity are seen as more feminine [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. Although there is a high awareness of men\u0026rsquo;s involvement in ANC, their engagement remains limited across many communities in Ghana. Additionally, few studies have examined how sociodemographic factors influence men\u0026rsquo;s attitudes towards and active engagement in ANC in Ghana. Hence, this study investigated how sociodemographic factors impact the level of awareness of men, their attitude, and participation in antenatal care, and also identified cultural barriers that influence their participation.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2.0 Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1 Study Design/ Setting\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA cross-sectional study design and structured questionnaire were used for the project's execution; this strategy was chosen since it made it simpler to get exact data on male involvement in ANC attendance at a given time. This study was conducted in the Denkyembour District, situated within the Eastern Region of the Republic of Ghana. This District is one of the 33 Districts/Municipalities that collectively form the Eastern Region. Birim North, Akyemansa, East Akim District, Suhum/Kraboa/Coatal, West Akim, Kwaebibirem and Birim Central Municipality formed its western, eastern, northern and southern borders, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e: Map showing Denkyembour District Eastern Region, Ghana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3 Study Population\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study was conducted between May to August,2025. Participants consisted of adult men who were district residents and were either married, divorced, or single, but who had children under the age of one year or whose spouses were pregnant at the time of the study.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4 Inclusion Criteria\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study included men who were husbands or partners of pregnant women or those who had had a child within the last 12 months, were residents of Denkyembour District, and were willing to voluntarily provide informed consent to participate in the study.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.5 Exclusion Criteria\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMen who did not have a pregnant partner or child within the past 12 months were excluded from the study. Additionally, non-resident men in Denkyembour District were not eligible to participate. The study also excluded men who refused to provide informed consent or were unwilling to participate in the research.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.6 Sample Size\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe sample size was determined using a single proportion population formula with the following assumptions: 69% male involvement in ANC (Mapunda et al., 2022), 5% level of significance, and 5% as the margin of error, calculated as follows using Cochran's sample size formula (Cochran, 1977):\u003cdiv id=\"Equa\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\u003cdiv format=\"TEX\" class=\"mathdisplay\" id=\"FileID_Equa\" name=\"EquationSource\"\u003e\n$$\\:N=\\frac{{z}^{2}\\left(p\\right(1-p)}{{D}^{2}}$$\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhere N= sample size, Z= statistic for a level of confidence\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.96, P= expected proportion\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.69,\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eD= Precision\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSubstituting;\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eN = \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\(\\:{\\left(1.96\\right)}^{2}*\\frac{0.69(1-0.69)}{{\\left(0.05\\right)}^{2}}\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e =329\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdding 5% for missing or incomplete data gave a final sample size of 345. However, 5 more respondents were added, making it 350 respondents in all.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.7 Sampling Techniques\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTwo main sampling techniques were used in this study: simple random sampling and purposive sampling. Simple random sampling was employed to select communities and male partners from identified households. This ensured that every eligible household and individual within the selected communities had an equal chance of being included in the study, thus minimizing selection bias and enhancing representativeness. Purposive sampling was employed at two levels: first, in the selection of sub-districts and health facilities based on their ANC activity and accessibility; and second, in the selection of midwives directly involved in antenatal care services. These midwives played a key role in administering questionnaires to male partners who were already accompanying their partners to ANC clinics, providing insight into the experiences and involvement of supportive men.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.8 Sampling Procedure\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study adopted a multistage sampling procedure to select participants from both the community and health facility levels within the Denkyembour District. In the first stage, sub-districts within Denkyembour District were selected purposively based on the presence of functioning antenatal care services and accessibility for data collection. In the second stage, communities within the selected sub-districts were randomly selected using simple random sampling, that is through balloting from a list provided by the District Health Directorate or the Sub-District. From each selected community, households with pregnant women or children less than 12 months were identified, and male partners were selected using simple random sampling. At the health facility level, facilities offering ANC services in the selected sub-districts were included purposively. Within these facilities, midwives were purposively recruited to assist in administering questionnaires to male partners who accompanied their partners for ANC visits. This method ensured that respondents with direct experience and involvement in ANC were targeted while also promoting practical feasibility in data collection.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.9 Recruitment of Participants\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants for this study were recruited from two main sources: households within selected communities and health facilities across the sub-districts of Denkyembour District. For community-based data collection, male partners of pregnant women or children less than 12 months were identified and selected through a house-to-house approach. Simple random sampling was employed using a household list obtained from community health volunteers or the sub-district records to ensure that all eligible households had an equal chance of inclusion. Upon visiting selected households, the purpose of the study was explained, and willing male partners were invited to participate after informed consent was obtained. At the health facilities, health workers, particularly midwives, were recruited to assist in administering the questionnaire to male partners who accompanied their pregnant partners to antenatal care services. This approach ensured that data were collected directly from men who were actively involved in the antenatal care process. Midwives were selected purposively based on their roles in ANC service delivery and their availability. All participants were informed of the purpose of the study, and their consent was sought before participation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.10 Data Collection Instrument\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eData were collected using the KOBO Collect app, an open-source mobile data collection tool widely adopted in field-based research across resource-constrained settings. The app was linked to the KOBO server, where a pre-coded structured questionnaire was designed and deployed. KOBO Collect allows for offline data entry on Android devices, making it particularly suitable for rural and peri-urban environments with intermittent internet access. Its use has been documented in various studies. [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e] [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. In this study, KOBO Collect enabled the integration of data quality controls, such as mandatory fields and skip logic, which minimized entry errors and enhanced consistency. The questionnaire, designed in English and administered in local languages, comprised closed-ended items focused on sociodemographic characteristics, awareness, attitudes, and barriers to male involvement in antenatal care. Data were synced to the KOBO server once internet connectivity was available, ensuring secure and centralized storage for subsequent analysis.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.11 Data Management and Statistical Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eData obtained was rechecked, cleaned, and sent to the KOBO server. An Excel database containing the aggregated data was downloaded from the server and exported to SPSS 29.0 for statistical analysis. Analyses such as mean, median, and frequencies were calculated. Additionally, a T-test was conducted to compare quantitative variables. All statistical analyses were conducted at a \u003cb\u003e5% level of significance (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05)\u003c/b\u003e, ensuring that observed associations between sociodemographic variables and male involvement in ANC were statistically meaningful and not due to chance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3.0 Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1 Sociodemographic Data of Participants.\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe sociodemographic data of the 350 participants indicate that the majority were aged between 25 and 34 years (44.3%), followed by those aged 35\u0026ndash;44 years (38.6%), with fewer participants under 25 years (11.1%) and 45 years or older (6%). Most respondents were Christians (68.3%), while Muslims and Traditionalists made up 18.6% and 13.1%, respectively. In terms of education, more than half had tertiary education (55.1%), and a smaller proportion had only primary education (4.9%). The dominant occupation was public service (58.9%), followed by trading (26.9%) and farming (12%), with few participants working as fishermen (2.3%). Most women were married (78%), while 17.7% were single, and very few were widowed (2%) or divorced/separated (2.3%). Regarding parity, nearly half had two children (49.7%), 38.9% had one child, and only 11.1% had three or more children (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4.1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4.1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSociodemographic Data of Participants.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;350)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLess than 25 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;34 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e155\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35-44years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e135\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45 and above\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eReligion\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChristians\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e239\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMuslim\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTraditionalist\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEducation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrimary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJSH\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSHS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e97\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTertiary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e193\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOccupation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublic servant\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e206\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFisherman\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrader\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarital Status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSingle\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarried\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e273\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e78\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWidowed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDivorced/separated\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of Children\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e136\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTwo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e174\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThree or more\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2 Level of Male Participation in ANC.\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results show a high level of male awareness and participation in antenatal care (ANC) among the 350 respondents. A majority (92.9%) had heard about ANC, with health professionals (50.3%) and wives (33.4%) being the main sources of information. Most men (75.4%) reported accompanying their spouses to ANC visits, and among those, 59.1% did so twice, while 25% went once and 15.9% three or more times. Additionally, 77.4% of participants said their partners permitted them to accompany them to ANC, indicating supportive relationships. Importantly, 82.9% believed that their involvement could motivate their partners to attend ANC, reflecting positive attitudes toward male participation in maternal healthcare (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4.2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4.2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLevel of Male Participation in ANC.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;350)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHeard about ANC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e325\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e92.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSource of Information about ANC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHusband of another woman\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWife\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e117\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHealth Professional\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e176\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFriend/Relative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDid you accompany your spouse ever to the ANC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e264\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow many times (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;264)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOnce\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTwice\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e156\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThree or more\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoes your partner permit you to accompany her to the ANC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e271\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDo you think accompanying your partner to ANC will motivate her to attend\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e290\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e82.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot Sure\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3. Barriers to Male\u0026rsquo;s Participation in ANC Attendance.\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results indicate that the main barriers preventing men from attending antenatal care (ANC) are largely practical and work-related. The most commonly reported barrier was the nature of their occupation (40%), followed closely by the distance to ANC centers (37.7%), highlighting logistical and time constraints. Financial difficulties were cited by 10% of respondents, suggesting that economic limitations also hinder male involvement. A smaller proportion attributed their absence to cultural beliefs (4.9%) and the perceived bad attitude of midwives (7.4%), indicating that while socio-cultural and interpersonal factors play a role, they are less prominent than occupational and accessibility challenges (Fig.\u0026nbsp;4.1).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.4. Factors Preventing Male\u0026rsquo;s Participation in ANC Attendance.\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe findings reveal that while male involvement in ANC is generally positive, several factors influence their level of participation. Decision-making about ANC attendance is mostly joint (74.3%), though some households see it as the husband's (11.7%) or wife's (14%) sole decision. When women refuse ANC, the majority of men (77.1%) claim they would compel their partners to attend. A substantial proportion (73.4%) had accompanied their partners during previous pregnancies, and 81.1% indicated they are likely to do so in future pregnancies. Most men (86.9%) view their role in ANC as significant, and 83.1% believe it is acceptable to escort their partners. However, 68.9% reported that time spent at ANC is a barrier. Despite this, a high percentage (86%) believe men should learn more about ANC. Financial and logistical factors also play a role\u0026mdash;69.7% of partners request money before attending ANC, and 70.3% use vehicles to get there. Encouragingly, 78% of men supervise their partners' medication intake, and 91.7% understand the importance of nutrient-rich foods, with most sourcing them from markets (72.3%) or their farms (21.2%). These results highlight both strong male engagement and practical barriers that should be addressed to enhance male participation in maternal health (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4.3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4.3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFactors Preventing Male\u0026rsquo;s Participation in ANC Attendance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;350)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWho decides if a pregnant woman goes ANC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHusband\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWife\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBoth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e260\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e74.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat do you do if the woman refuses to attend ANC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAllow her to stay at home\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eForce her to go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e270\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDid you ever accompany your partner to an ANC (Previous Pregnancies)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e257\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e73.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs it likely for you to accompany your partner to ANC (Future Pregnancies)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLikely\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e284\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e81.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnlikely\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat is your perception about the role men should play in ANC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSignificant role\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e304\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInsignificant role\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs it acceptable to escort your partner to ANC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e291\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDo you spend more time at ANC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e241\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e109\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs it important for men to learn more about ANC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e301\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoes your partner demand money before going to ANC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e244\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e106\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBy what means does she go to the ANC center\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVehicle\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e246\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWalking\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e104\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDo you supervise your partner in taking her ANC-given drugs\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e273\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e78\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDo you know is required for every pregnant woman to eat nutrient-rich foods\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e321\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIf yes, how does she get those foods (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;321)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrom our farm\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e78.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBuying from the market\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e253\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e72.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.5 Association Between Sociodemographic Data and Willingness to Attend ANC in Future.\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4.4\u003c/span\u003e show a statistically significant association (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.00001) between various sociodemographic factors and men's willingness to accompany their spouses to antenatal care (ANC) in the future. Among those likely to attend, the majority were aged 25\u0026ndash;34 years (130; 45.8%) and 35\u0026ndash;44 years (111; 39.1%), while fewer were below 25 years (22; 7.7%) or 45 and above (21; 7.4%). In contrast, 25.8% of those unlikely to attend were under 25, 37.9% were 25\u0026ndash;34, and 36.4% were 35\u0026ndash;44. Christians represented the highest proportion of those willing (215; 75.7%), followed by Muslims (48; 16.9%) and Traditionalists (21; 7.4%); however, 37.9% of those unwilling were Traditionalists. Education was a strong predictor: 59.5% of willing participants had tertiary education, 31.7% SHS, 6.3% JHS, and 2.5% primary, while 37.9% of the unwilling had only JHS, and 15.2% had primary education. Public servants made up the majority of those likely to accompany their spouse (182; 64.1%), followed by traders (77; 27.1%), farmers (17; 6.0%), and fishermen (8; 2.8%); notably, 37.9% of those unwilling were farmers. Marital status also showed significance, with 83.1% of the likely group being married, while 43.9% of the unwilling were single. Finally, 57.7% of men willing to attend had three or more children, 31.7% had two, and 10.6% had one child. In contrast, 69.7% of those unwilling to attend had only two children. These findings highlight that age, religion, education, occupation, marital status, and number of children significantly influence men\u0026rsquo;s willingness to support their partners in attending ANC (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4.4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4.4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAssociation Between Sociodemographic Data and Willingness to Attend ANC in Future.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccompanying spouse to ANC in the furture\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLikely\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnlikely\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-Value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.00001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLess than 25 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22(7.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17(25.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;34 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e130(45.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25(37.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35-44years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e111(39.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24(36.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45 and above\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21(7.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0(0.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eReligion\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.00001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChristians\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e215(75.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24(36.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMuslim\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48(16.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17(25.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTraditionalist\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21(7.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25(37.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEducation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.00001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrimary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7(2.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10(15.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJSH\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18(6.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25(37.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSHS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90(31.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7(10.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTertiary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e169(59.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24(36.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOccupation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.00001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17(6.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25(37.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublic servant\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e182(64.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24(36.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFisherman\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8(2.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0(0.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrader\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77(27.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17(25.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarital Status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.00001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSingle\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33(11.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29(43.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarried\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e236(83.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37(56.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWidowed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7(2.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0(0.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDivorced/separated\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8(2.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0(0.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of Children\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.00001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30(10.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10(15.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTwo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90(31.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46(69.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThree or more\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e164(57.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10(15.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4.0 Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eGlobally, male involvement in maternal health has emerged as a critical determinant of the success of maternal and child health (MCH) interventions [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR10\" citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. A growing body of literature underscores the transformative potential of male engagement, particularly in patriarchal settings such as Ghana, where decision-making authority and resource control are often concentrated in the hands of men [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. Despite this recognized importance, male participation in antenatal care (ANC) remains disproportionately low across low- and middle-income countries, especially within Sub-Saharan Africa [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. The dearth of localized research on this subject, especially in the Ghanaian context, necessitated the present study, which sought to elucidate the sociodemographic and contextual factors shaping male involvement in ANC.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe sociodemographic profile of the 350 respondents reveals a predominantly youthful and educated cohort, with the majority aged 25\u0026ndash;44 years and over half holding tertiary qualifications. Public sector employment was most common (58.9%), and marital union was the normative status (78%). These foundational characteristics offer useful interpretive context for the subsequent analyses on attitudes and engagement. Our findings demonstrate a commendably high level of male awareness and participation in ANC services. Nearly 93% of participants were familiar with ANC, chiefly informed by health professionals and spouses, while over 75% had accompanied their partners at least once. Notably, 82.9% perceived their presence as a motivational factor in their partners\u0026rsquo; attendance. These statistics reflect not only widespread knowledge but also a constructive orientation toward shared responsibility in maternal health. The prevalence of spousal support (77.4%) in permitting male presence further reflects evolving gender norms around caregiving roles in reproductive health. This contradict the general notion and the reports by most researchers that Ghanaian men are unwilling to attend ANC with their partners [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, these positive attitudes are tempered by persistent barriers to consistent participation. Our findings point chiefly to structural and occupational impediments: demanding work schedules (40%) and geographic inaccessibility (37.7%) were the most frequently cited deterrents. Financial strain, although less prominent (10%), also factored into decision-making, while socio-cultural beliefs and perceptions of unfriendly midwife behaviour accounted for a minority of responses. These insights align with those of Boadi et al. (2023), Annoon et al. (2020), and Kumbeni et al. (2019), all of whom emphasize the primacy of logistical and economic barriers over cultural ones in hindering male ANC involvement [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Importantly, the study reveals a nuanced portrait of men\u0026rsquo;s roles and behavioural intentions. Joint decision-making around ANC attendance was reported by 74.3% of respondents, signalling a shift from unilateral control toward relational negotiation. While 77.1% asserted they would compel unwilling partners to attend ANC, this assertion may reflect entrenched gender dynamics that merit further ethical scrutiny. Encouragingly, 81.1% expressed willingness to participate in future ANC visits, and a striking majority affirmed the importance of male learning and presence in maternal care. Furthermore, male contributions extended beyond physical presence, most men were involved in drug supervision and dietary support, reinforcing a broader conceptualization of fatherhood and caregiving.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrom a predictive standpoint, sociodemographic variables emerged as statistically significant correlates (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.00001) of willingness to attend ANC in the future. Education stood out as a strong enabler, those with tertiary backgrounds were more likely to engage. Similarly, occupational type, religion, and marital status played influential roles. Notably, public servants and married men were more represented among the \"likely to attend\" group. These associations echo the conclusions drawn by Boadi et al. (2023) and Sam et al. (2024), who documented the strong linkage between education, economic status, and ANC engagement [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn sum, the findings illustrate a dual narrative: one of growing male awareness and commitment to ANC and another of enduring structural barriers. Future interventions must therefore address not only knowledge gaps but also systemic constraints such as inflexible work schedules, travel distance, and service delivery inefficiencies. Strengthening male involvement in ANC must be approached as both a behavioural and infrastructural challenge, requiring responsive policies, community engagement, and service redesign attuned to the lived realities of men in Ghana and similar settings.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5.0 Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study confirms that while male involvement in antenatal care in Ghana is encouragingly high, it is significantly shaped by sociodemographic factors such as age, education, occupation, marital status, and religion. Despite strong awareness and supportive attitudes, participation is often hindered by practical challenges like work demands, distance to health facilities, and financial constraints. Addressing these systemic barriers through inclusive policies and targeted interventions is essential for fostering sustained male engagement and enhancing maternal and child health outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":" \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e Ethical Approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KAAF/IRB/AP/11/25). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants and documented from their medical records. This study was conducted in accordance with the core principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003ch2\u003eConsent of publication\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003ch2\u003eClinical Trial Number\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFunding\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo funding was obtained for this study.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTAB, JTN, WA, EOB, SAS, and LOB participated in Conceptualization, Investigation and Methodology. TB, AMA, AOB and LOB participated in Data curation and TB, JTN, MHA and FEG, participated in Formal analysis and writing, reviewing, and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe datasets during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlemi S, et al. Male participation in antenatal care and its influence on their pregnant partners\u0026rsquo; reproductive health care utilization: insight from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey. J Biosoc Sci. 2021;53(3):436\u0026ndash;58.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWHO. Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2020: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and UNDESA/Population Division. World Health Organization; 2023.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbebe GF, et al. Male involvement in antenatal care follow-up and its determinants in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ open. 2024;14(12):e083492.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlay AB. Determinants of Male Partner Involvement in Antenatal Care and Its Effect on Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness in New Juaben North Municipality of Eastern Region. University of Ghana; 2023.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAmpim GA, et al. I came to escort someone: Men\u0026rsquo;s experiences of antenatal care services in urban Ghana\u0026mdash;a qualitative study. Reproductive health. 2021;18(1):106.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYabotsi SF, Awotsitsi M. They Call Me Salomey: Factors Influencing Male Involvement In Antenatal Care Services In The Ho Municipality, Ghana. University of Cape Coast; 2024.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGangopadhyay D, Roy R, Roy K. From Pen to Pixel: Exploring Kobo Toolbox as a modern approach to smart data collection. Food Sci Rep. 2024;5(5):8\u0026ndash;13.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVinck PPaP. \u003cem\u003eKoBoToolbox Harvard Humanitarian Initiative\u003c/em\u003e. 2005; Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://hhi.harvard.edu/kobotoolbox\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://hhi.harvard.edu/kobotoolbox\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDoegah PT. Investigating male presence at antenatal and choice of place for child delivery in Ghana. Front Public Health. 2019;7:300.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuspianto IN, Ibnu, Asyary A. Associated factors of male participation in antenatal care in Muaro Jambi District, Indonesia. J Pregnancy. 2022;2022(1):6842278.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKumbeni MT, et al. Factors influencing male involvement in antenatal care in the Kassena Nankana Municipal in the Upper East Region, Ghana. Eur Sci J. 2019;15(21):3.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMohammed S, Yakubu I, Awal I. Sociodemographic factors associated with women\u0026rsquo;s perspectives on male involvement in antenatal care, labour, and childbirth. J pregnancy. 2020;2020(1):6421617.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBoadi C et al. Interplay of sociodemographic factors and antenatal care attendance with free maternal care policy: a case study of Ghana. BMJ Public Health, 2023. 1(1).\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnnoon Y et al. Perception of pregnant women on barriers to male involvement in antenatal care in Sekondi, Ghana. Heliyon, 2020. 6(7).\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnawari PN, et al. Male Involvement in the Maternal Health Care: Expectations of Pregnant Women in Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Open J Nurs. 2023;13(1):1\u0026ndash;21.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSam NB, Aboyine T, Tackie-Otoo T. \u003cem\u003eExamining the Multifaceted Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization in Ghana Using Structural Equation Modelling.\u003c/em\u003e ESI Preprints (European Scientific Journal, ESJ), 2024. 20(36): pp. 1\u0026ndash;1.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-the-egyptian-public-health-association","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jepa","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association](http://jepha.springeropen.com)","snPcode":"42506","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/42506/3","title":"Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Open","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Antenatal care, Male Involvement, Maternal Health","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8901026/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8901026/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale involvement in antenatal care (ANC) is vital to improving maternal health outcomes, yet remains limited in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. This study explores how sociodemographic factors influence male awareness, attitudes, and participation in ANC within Denkyembour District, Ghana.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethod\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsing a cross-sectional design and structured questionnaires administered via the KOBO Collect app, data were gathered from 350 male respondents who were either partners of pregnant women or fathers of children under one year.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFindings reveal high levels of awareness (92.9%) and participation (75.4%) in ANC, with most men perceiving their involvement as motivational for their partners. However, barriers such as occupational demands (40%), distance to health facilities (37.7%), and financial constraints (10%) hinder consistent engagement. Sociodemographic variables, including age, education, occupation, marital status, and religion, were significantly associated (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.00001) with willingness to attend ANC in the future.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study highlights the importance of culturally sensitive and structurally appropriate interventions that encourage male involvement in maternal health, thereby helping to reduce maternal mortality in Ghana and similar settings.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Engaging the Other Half: Sociodemographic Insights for Strengthening Male Involvement in Antenatal Care","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-22 05:47:04","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8901026/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"202987949243386727827117094348679825004","date":"2026-05-05T11:21:34+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"73625617138051486581362869260568534255","date":"2026-04-14T11:55:29+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-14T11:10:30+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-02-23T07:45:02+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-02-23T07:42:21+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association","date":"2026-02-17T11:57:23+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-the-egyptian-public-health-association","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jepa","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association](http://jepha.springeropen.com)","snPcode":"42506","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/42506/3","title":"Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Open","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"434de0ff-65b8-41ce-aab3-e92f5a2f931d","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 22nd, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"202987949243386727827117094348679825004","date":"2026-05-05T11:21:34+00:00","index":19,"fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-22T05:47:04+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-22 05:47:04","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8901026","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8901026","identity":"rs-8901026","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}