MALE PARTNER INVOLVEMENT ON MATERNAL CARE SERVICES DURING PERINATAL PERIOD IN MUMIAS EAST AND WEST SUB COUNTIES, KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA.

Background: Globally male involvement on maternal health services remains a challenge to effective health care. Maternal deaths arise from pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal complications and this can be reduced by involving men. Benefits of male involvement have been acknowledged in developed countries, however there still continues to be a challenge in creating a space for and engaging men in maternal health. In Kenya male involvement in maternity care is one of the strategies for improving the maternal health and reducing maternal mortalities. Objective: This study explored socio demographic, cultural and health facility factors associated with male partner involvement on maternal care services during perinatal period in Mumias East and West sub counties, Kakamega County, Kenya. Methods: The data was collected using a pre tested structured questionnaire administered to 422 respondents (husband and wife). Four focus group discussions were conducted in groups of nine. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze socio demographic characteristics and inferential statistics using Kappa test, chi-square, odd ratio and Regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Null hypothesis was tested at 5% significance level. The study revealed that women initiated to seek antenatal care, but men eventually decide. Decision making power of men was grounded on education (p= 0.001, OR 2.030), occupation (P= 0,001, OR= 2.103) and living together (OR= 1.989). Social cultural factors of husbands also had influence on male partner involvement. Kappa test was 0.9945 implying agreement between husband and wife responses. Regression analysis, at 5% significance level predicted that male participated by providing support (p=0.001). Space (p= 0.001) at the health facility had negative influence on whether the man stayed with wife during labour. Conclusion: Improving the levels of education and income of male partners, addressing cultural beliefs and practices, and sensitizing men on complications associated with pregnancy and child birth can contribute significantly in enhancing male partner involvement in maternity care. However,there remain a number of maternal health care service challenges such as space and privacy that need to be addressed before maternal health care become more male friendly.