Exploring men's knowledge, barriers, and facilitators to male involvement in maternal health care in the Central Region of Ghana: a qualitative inquiry

Despite global reductions in maternal mortality, Sub-Saharan Africa bears 70% of deaths, with Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio (234/100,000) exceeding the SDG target. Male involvement improves maternal outcomes, yet remains suboptimal in Ghana’s Central Region due to sociocultural, economic, and systemic barriers. This study explored men’s knowledge, barriers, and facilitators to involvement in maternal healthcare. A qualitative descriptive design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 25 adult males (mean age: 39.5 years) in Ghana’s Central Region. Participants were purposively sampled for demographic diversity (education: 36% Junior High School; occupation: 36% informal sector). Thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s framework, with data managed in NVivo 12. Five key themes emerged: (1) Self-Perceived Knowledge, where 48% reported moderate understanding tied to lived experience and 32% expressed high confidence despite clinical knowledge gaps; (2) Sources of Information, dominated by family/upbringing and religious institutions, with healthcare systems underutilized; (3) Knowledge Gaps, revealing critical deficits in labor/delivery, postnatal care, and emergencies; (4) Comfort in Discussion, where 60% felt comfortable discussing maternal health, but 40% cited cultural taboos; and (5) Educational Engagement, in which 80% lacked formal program exposure noted exclusion from postnatal sessions), yet 78% desired targeted education. Key barriers included socio-cultural norms prioritizing financial roles, economic constraints limiting clinic attendance, and systemic health service exclusion. Men’s involvement is constrained by a knowledge-action gap, reinforced by structural barriers and gendered norms. Interventions must leverage interest in education through male-inclusive clinics, community programs, and policy reforms to transform intentions into partnership. Addressing these gaps is critical for advancing maternal health equity in Ghana.