MALE AWARENESS OF ANTENATAL CARE SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v9i1.245Keywords:
antenatal care, male awareness, male involvement, maternal health, socio-demographic factors, ZambiaAbstract
Male involvement in antenatal care (ANC) is increasingly recognized as a critical component of improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. However, male awareness of ANC services and the factors influencing such awareness remain inadequately understood in many sub-Saharan African settings, including Zambia. This study aimed to assess male awareness of ANC services and to determine socio-demographic factors associated with male awareness in Livingstone District, Zambia. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 120 men selected from workplaces in Livingstone District. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The findings revealed that 86% of respondents demonstrated awareness of ANC services. Bivariate analysis showed that awareness was significantly associated with age (p = 0.004), marital status (p = 0.003), and educational attainment (p = 0.033), while occupation was not significantly associated (p = 0.250). Men aged 31 years and above, married men, and those with secondary or higher education exhibited higher levels of awareness. However, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that none of the socio-demographic variables remained statistically significant predictors of awareness after adjusting for confounders: age (AOR = 1.79, 95% CI: 0.77–4.17, p = 0.175), marital status (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI: 0.67–6.43, p = 0.203), education (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI: 0.70–2.92, p = 0.327), and occupation (AOR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.50–2.08, p = 0.957). Health care providers (61%) and female partners (26%) were the primary sources of ANC information. Although male awareness of ANC services was high, socio-demographic factors were not independent predictors after adjustment for confounding variables. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of male awareness and underscore the need for comprehensive, multi-level interventions targeting younger, unmarried, and less-educated men. Strengthening health facility–based education and expanding community and workplace outreach strategies may further enhance male engagement in maternal health programs.References
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