Refusal of male partner responsibility and pregnancy support: prevalence, associated factors and health outcomes in a cross sectional study in Harare, Zimbabwe

Male partners' refusal to acknowledge parenting responsibility was associated with men's abusiveness, absence of commitment to long-term relationship/marriage, gender unequal practices and negative maternal and child health outcomes. Parenting programmes must be instituted and prioritise transforming traditional gender norms to improve fathering responsibilities.