Men’s Role in Maternal Health Care: Awareness Level and Influencing Barriers in Manipur

Maternal Health Care System (MHCS) serves as a critical pillar of public health, specifically designed to provide comprehensive, timely, and life-saving care to pregnant women and newborns. Many demographic factors influence the awareness of MHCS. In a developing country like India, decision-making power within families often rests with men, so, the utilization of maternal health care services is largely shaped by husbands. This study examines men’s awareness of Maternal Health Care (MHC) in two valley districts of Manipur, a northeastern state of India with limited health infrastructures. This study is trying to find out the men’s level of awareness of MHC in Manipur and to determine the major factors that limit men’s awareness in MHC. The sample size of this study is 120; the respondents are couples who have children under five years of age from the two valley districts of Manipur. Wives are asked many maternity-related questions, and husbands are asked whether they know or are aware of the information. Demographic data are taken for husbands that can influence their awareness of the maternal health care system. Data analysis is done with the help of SPSS. Statistical techniques used for this study are Chi-square test and Binary logistic regression. By calculating Pearson Chi2 residence (p-value= 0.001), qualification (p-value= 0.000), economic activity (p-value= 0.000), income (p-value= 0.000), present age (p-value= 0.001) and age of marriage (p-value= 0.000) of husbands have a significant relationship with the level of awareness on maternal health care services. Husbands from urban areas, having stable socio-economic status, well educated, older, and married at a more mature age, have a higher level of maternal health care awareness. Binary logistic regression also reveals the changes that can happen in the level of awareness of husbands with changes in explanatory variables. There is a possibility of increasing 15.114 times in income level with one income level increase. In the state of Manipur, a patriarchal society, males will have a major role in increasing the use of essential MHCS. Therefore, from this study, it is suggested that possible efforts must be made to increase men’s awareness of MHCS at different levels.