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Objectives: In the field of international reproductive health, the promotion of male involvement has prevailed for reasons of both gender and health and is now an important part of reproductive health policies and programs. In preparation for a male involvement in antenatal and intrapartum care intervention, this qualitative study specifically aims to: (1) understand the barriers to male involvement in maternal health and (2) explore women’s attitudes towards the promotion of male involvement in maternal health.
Methods: This is a qualitative study. Samples consisted of Multi gravida and primi gravida women in Second and third-trimester of their pregnancy receiving antenatal services. Sampling was conducted through focus group discussions (FGDs) and by semi- constructed questionnaire. Six FGD with pregnant women were done with 43 women attended in FGD. The method of Content analysis was used in this research.
Results: The majority of women agreed to husbands’ attendance at prenatal care and delivery and also they talked about their husbands’ curiosity and courage about it. All of them emphasized on husbands’ companionship to hospital as reasons of their love and support. Themes were categorized in 4 categories. First category was importance of male involvement, consequences of male involvement, facilators of male involvement and barriers towards male involvement. Main themes were love and support and pregnant women’s expectations. From the point of view of women, the most prominent barriers to male involvement in maternal health included low levels of male knowledge about pregnancy problems, cultural issues (social stigma, pride, wrong beliefs, family upbringing, and parochial circumstances of small cities), women reliance on her mothers and household economic problems. The most prominent barriers to male attendance in health centers were the health center’s feminine atmosphere and reluctance to accept men in these centers.
Conclusion: The predominantly favorable attitudes of pregnant women towards encouraging greater male involvement in maternal health in this study imply that the introduction of an option for such services would be both feasible and well accepted. Accordingly, a major shift in health center and hospital policy was seen as an important first step in introducing couple-friendly antenatal or delivery services.
