Does involving male partners in antenatal care improve healthcare utilisation? Systematic review and meta-analysis of the published literature from low- and middle-income countries
2019

Involving Men in Antenatal Care Improves Healthcare Utilization

Sample size: 17 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Suandi Dedih, Pauline Williams, Sohinee Bhattacharya

Primary Institution: University of Aberdeen

Hypothesis

Does involving male partners in antenatal care improve healthcare utilisation?

Conclusion

Involving male partners in antenatal care positively impacts the uptake of maternal health services.

Supporting Evidence

  • Involving male partners in antenatal care was associated with skilled birth attendance utilization.
  • Male partner involvement increased the likelihood of institutional delivery.
  • Male involvement positively affected postpartum visit uptake.

Takeaway

When men help their partners during pregnancy, it can lead to better healthcare for mothers and babies.

Methodology

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 articles from South Asia and Africa.

Potential Biases

Potential publication bias as studies with negative findings are less likely to be published.

Limitations

Most studies were observational and may be subject to bias; findings may not be generalizable to all LMICs.

Participant Demographics

Pregnant women and their male partners from low- and middle-income countries.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

95% CI 1.55 to 6.55

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/inthealth/ihz073

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