Author(s)

Odya Cyombesha Pamela¹, Kadiata Bukasa Augustin^2*, Nene Kabyahura Novi³, Omanyondo Ohambe Marie-Claire⁴, Nanto Muleng Bwal Roline², Ngiele Malobo Costatine¹, Sebuana Mangongi Christine⁵, Katanda Bukasa Monique¹, Kanionga Nseya Celine³, Rose Mujinga Ntumba³

¹Midwifery Section, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Mbuji-Mayi, Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
²Section of Nursing Sciences, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
³Section Sages-Femmes, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
⁴Community Health Section, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Mbandaka, Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
⁵Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Introduction: The presence of men with their pregnant partners at facility-based antenatal care (ANC) visits is important for maternal and child health and gender equality, but remains rare in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Method: This is a quantitative study, of the correlational and cross-sectional descriptive type, centered on the factors linked to the low involvement of husbands during ANC. The target population consisted of married or common-law men residing in the Mombele health area during the survey period from 27/10/2021 to 30/11/2021. Results: The level of male involvement in antenatal care in Mombele Health Area in Limete Health Zone is 53.8%. The determinants underlying this low involvement in these services are: age (OR = 8.498; 95% CI 3.913 - 18.452; p = 0.000); religion (OR = 5.978; 95% CI 2.282 - 15.657; p = 0.000); negative perception or feeling of embarrassment (OR = 5.836; 95% CI 1.275 - 26.725; p = 0.023); marital status (OR = 10.995; 95% CI 4.231 - 28.575; p = 0.000). Conclusion: The involvement of men in prenatal care is still low. Hence, it incorporates a component of community participation in health programs for greater involvement of partners in order to contribute to improving the use of ANC services.

Determinants, Low Involvement, Husbands, Prenatal Consultation

Pamela, O.C., Augustin, K.B., Novi, N.K., Marie-Claire, O.O., Roline, N.M.B., Costatine, N.M., Christine, S.M., Monique, K.B., Celine, K.N. and Ntumba, R.M. (2023) Determinants of the Low Involvement of Husbands in the Prenatal Consultation in the City of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Open Access Library Journal, 10, 1-17. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1110278.