Male Participation in Safe Motherhood (A Study of Nayabazar VDC of Ilam District)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of male family members during the pregnancy and delivery period of women and to examine currently married male’s knowledge of safe motherhood such as during ANC, DC and PNC in reproductive age of respondents in Nayabazar VDC of Ilam district. This study has been carried out collecting primary data obtained from 105 respondents in reproductive age group of women and their husbands who have experienced at least one delivery. Quantitative method and Epi-data and SPSS software are used for data analysis. One respondent from each household was enumerated by dividing the VDC into five clusters on the basis of human settlements and two clusters were selected for the study. The findings of the study were, out of 105 male respondents, 95.24 percent are literate 4.76 percent illiterate and out of 105 female respondents 82.86 percent are literate and 10.5 percent are illiterate. Out of total male respondents 19 percent have low, 43 percent medium and 37 percent high knowledge of ANC. Among 105 respondents, 89 respondents have DC knowledge. Out of 89 respondents, about 70 percent respondents have medium and only 30 percent have high Knowledge. Among 105 respondents, about 22 percent have low, 47 percent have medium and 31 percent have high knowledge of PNC. Among 105 female respondents, 43.8 percent are never, 52.4 percent are sometime and 3.8 percent are always accompanied by their husbands. Among 105 male respondents 57.14 percent save money, 9.52 percent prepare nutritious food, 19.04 percent get ready to warm cloths, 9.52 percent buy delivery kits and other 4.8 percent do no preparations. Among 105 female respondents 24.8 percent are supported after delivery by their husbands and 75.2 percent are not supported. Among 105 female respondents 14.28 percent never, 71.43 percent sometime and 14.28 percent most of the time eat nutritious food. Findings of the study show that ANC knowledge is positively interrelated to the education level of the family members. Therefore, increasing of awareness on ANC knowledge through formal and informal education is recommended. Researches covering broad area and population should be carried out to understand the current state and make future strategies in population policies.