TY - JOUR

T1 - Who is most vulnerable? Factors associated with presenting to antenatal care without a male partner in Northern Tanzania

AU - Sao, Saumya S.

AU - Coleman, Jessica N.

AU - Minja, Linda

AU - Mwamba, Rimel N.

AU - Kisigo, Godfrey A.

AU - Osaki, Haika

AU - Renju, Jenny

AU - Mmbaga, Blandina T.

AU - Watt, Melissa H.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Objective: Male engagement in pregnancy care can be beneficial for maternal and child health outcomes. In Tanzania, pregnant women are strongly encouraged to present to their first antenatal care (ANC) appointment with a male partner, where they jointly test for HIV. For some, this presents a barrier to ANC attendance. The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with presenting to ANC with a male partner using a cross-sectional design and to assess whether women presenting without partners had significantly delayed presentation. Methods: Pregnant women (n = 1007) attending a first ANC appointment in Moshi, Tanzania were surveyed. Questions captured sociodemographic characteristics and measures of psychosocial constructs. Results: Just over half (54%) of women presented to care with a male partner. Women were more likely to present with a male partner if they were younger than 25 years old, married, Muslim, attending ANC for their first pregnancy, and testing for HIV for the first time. Women presenting to ANC with a male partner were significantly more likely to attend ANC earlier in their pregnancy than those presenting without male partners. Conclusion: Policy change allowing women to present to care with other supportive family members could promote earlier presentation to first ANC. Unmarried women may be at a disadvantage in presenting to ANC when policies mandate attendance with a male partner. Male partners of multiparous women should be encouraged to provide pregnancy support even after first pregnancies, and a wholistic emphasis (beyond HIV testing) on first ANC could encourage male engagement beyond the initial appointment.

AB - Objective: Male engagement in pregnancy care can be beneficial for maternal and child health outcomes. In Tanzania, pregnant women are strongly encouraged to present to their first antenatal care (ANC) appointment with a male partner, where they jointly test for HIV. For some, this presents a barrier to ANC attendance. The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with presenting to ANC with a male partner using a cross-sectional design and to assess whether women presenting without partners had significantly delayed presentation. Methods: Pregnant women (n = 1007) attending a first ANC appointment in Moshi, Tanzania were surveyed. Questions captured sociodemographic characteristics and measures of psychosocial constructs. Results: Just over half (54%) of women presented to care with a male partner. Women were more likely to present with a male partner if they were younger than 25 years old, married, Muslim, attending ANC for their first pregnancy, and testing for HIV for the first time. Women presenting to ANC with a male partner were significantly more likely to attend ANC earlier in their pregnancy than those presenting without male partners. Conclusion: Policy change allowing women to present to care with other supportive family members could promote earlier presentation to first ANC. Unmarried women may be at a disadvantage in presenting to ANC when policies mandate attendance with a male partner. Male partners of multiparous women should be encouraged to provide pregnancy support even after first pregnancies, and a wholistic emphasis (beyond HIV testing) on first ANC could encourage male engagement beyond the initial appointment.

KW - Antenatal care

KW - HIV care

KW - Male engagement

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Tanzania

U2 - 10.1016/j.midw.2024.103962

DO - 10.1016/j.midw.2024.103962

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38489854

AN - SCOPUS:85188006192

VL - 132

JO - Midwifery

JF - Midwifery

SN - 0266-6138

M1 - 103962

ER -