Peer-reviewed article
Sesotho Women's Preferences for Male Partner Involvement During Antenatal Care and Delivery.
Engelbrecht M, Mulu N, Kigozi-Male G ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study explored what Sesotho-speaking women in Lesotho want from their male partners during pregnancy and childbirth. Researchers surveyed 513 women and held group discussions with 64 women to understand their views. Most women (96%) wanted men at antenatal care visits, and most (78%) wanted them present during delivery. Women valued emotional and practical support and appreciated men learning about pregnancy, but some worried about privacy and cultural concerns.
Key points
- 95.7% of women supported male partner attendance at antenatal care visits
- 78% of women favoured male partner presence during delivery
- Support for male partner involvement during delivery was higher among women who had previous male attendance at ANC, had given birth before, and were older
- Women valued emotional and practical support from male partners and appreciated their improved knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth
- Some women expressed concerns about privacy, cultural expectations, male anxiety, and potential verbal abuse
Limitations
This study describes what women prefer about male involvement in maternal care but does not evaluate whether involving men actually improves maternal or child health outcomes. The findings are specific to Sesotho-speaking women and may not apply to other populations or contexts.
Abstract
Male partner involvement (MPI) is recognised as an important strategy for improving maternal health, yet little is known about women's preferences for how men should participate in antenatal care (ANC) and childbirth. This study explored Sesotho-speaking women's preferences for MPI and identified the forms of involvement that they considered to be appropriate and beneficial using a concurrent mixed-methods design. A survey was conducted with 513 women who had children under six years, and eight focus group discussions were held with 64 women of reproductive age. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binomial logistic linear regression, while qualitative data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Survey findings revealed that 95.7% of women supported male attendance at ANC visits, while 78% favoured male presence during delivery. Support for MPI during delivery was associated with prior male attendance at ANC and previous birth, as well as older maternal age. Qualitative findings highlighted that women valued emotional and practical support and appreciated men's improved knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth. However, some women expressed concerns about privacy, cultural expectations, male anxiety, and potential verbal abuse. The combined findings reveal the complexity of women's perspectives on MPI, underscoring the importance of context-sensitive interventions that prioritise women's voices while promoting constructive male engagement in maternal health.