International Research Journal of Public and Environmental Health

Original Research Article

Male gender engagement in sexual and reproductive health services in Nigeria- A comparative study

Lilian Okwuchukwu Iwu1,2,3, Amina Yahaya3 and Ogbonna Collins Nwabuko1,4,5,6


1Department of Public Health, Unicaf University, Zambia,
2National Defense College, Nigeria.
3Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Nigeria.
4Department of Haematology, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State,Nigeria
5Gregory University, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
6Department of Haematology & Blood Transfusion. Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross-Rivers State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author Email: ogbollins2002(at)yahoo.com

Tel:+2348037046537

Lilian Okwuchukwu Iwu

Amina Yahaya

Ogbonna Collins Nwabuko


Article Number: irjpeh.24.007  |   Pages: 53-62  |   Vol.11(2), July 2024   |   DOI: https://doi.org/10.15739/irjpeh.24.007

 Received: April 3, 2024  Accepted: July 2, 2024  Published: July 9, 2024

Abstract

Male gender involvement in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is essential for the realization of socio-cultural and economic development. The significance of the male involvement cannot be overemphasized as the head of the house because of his strong influence on decision-making in the family. This study sought to investigate the differences in the level of male involvement in SRH services between rural Mpape and urban Gwarinpa communities in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. This research was guided by using a comparative cross-sectional survey in which qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Primary data was obtained using questionnaires and in-depth interview guides. A multistage sampling technique was used to select married men with at least one child from the two communities to assess their involvement in SRH services and their support and willingness to support their partners in assessing SRH services. In-depth interviews were carried out among women, healthcare providers and community leaders to examine the involvement of men in SRH in both communities. The data collected was processed and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The study showed an average willingness of male involvement in sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) of 41.6%, a value statistically and significantly lower in rural communities of Mpape (28.3%) compared to that of urban Gwarinpa (54.9%) (p=0.000). The implication is that men in Mpape rural communities are less willing and supportive of their spouses than their urban counterparts. In conclusion, the willingness and attitudes of men to accompany their partners for SRH services were averagely poor in Nigerian communities with the rural communities worse than their urban counterparts. There is therefore need to create a public health awareness campaign and to legalize the participatory role of the male gender in SRHS in Nigeria.

Keywords: Male gender engagement, sexual and reproductive health, family planning, sexual reproductive health services, maternal child health, antenatal care

Keywords: Male gender engagement, sexual and reproductive health, family planning, sexual reproductive health services, maternal child health, antenatal care

How to Cite this Article

Iwu LO, Yahaya A, Nwabuko OC (2024). Male gender engagement in sexual and reproductive health services in Nigeria- A comparative study.Int. Res. J. Pub. Environ. Health 11(2):53-62. https://doi.org/10.15739/irjpeh.24.007

© 2024 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which allow unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited.


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