Paternal Values towards Women’s Empowerment and its Associations with Maternal and Paternal Antenatal Care Attendance among Sub–saharan African Population 2010-2014

Background & aim: Increased paternal engagement in antenatal care and birth positively influences pregnancy outcomes. There is very little research that describes the men's value of the reproductive health of their partner and its impact on paternal engagement in preconception, antenatal, and postpartum care. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential associations of paternal values towards women’s empowerment (PVWE) with maternal and paternal antenatal care (ANC) attendance.Methods: Secondary analysis of a men’s survey conducted by the Demographic and Health Surveys (2010-2014) (n=26892). A retrospective analysis of observational data collected as part of a prospective census survey was performed. An empowerment instrument was created ad hoc using four available variables. Nine sub-Saharan countries were included. Surveys obtained via stratified sampling with varying probability using weight distributions. Data were pooled into an aggregate dataset and examined through various regression methods. Results: PVWE was positively associated with maternal antenatal care. Lower PVWE was associated with lower likelihood that women attend ANC. PVWE was also positively associated with paternal antenatal care attendance. Lower versus higher PVWE was associated with lower likelihood that fathers attended ANC.Conclusion: PVWE is positively associated with maternal and paternal antenatal care attendance. Men’s values of the reproductive rights of their partner may contribute to antenatal care attendance or antenatal care may shape men’s values of women. Further research can build upon this study to provide more insight as to how masculinity shapes men’s values of the respective rights of women.