Are We Together in This? Factors associated with men's involvement in maternal health—Insights from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey

Introduction : Men's involvement in maternal care is crucial in enhancing maternal and child health services. Although the significance of male participation in reproductive health is well established, there is a lack of evidence regarding the factors influencing male involvement in maternal care in Kenya. Therefore, this study assessed the trends and correlates of male involvement in maternal care in Kenya. Methods : This study adopted a cross-sectional design using data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys (KDHS) conducted in 2008/2009, 2014, and 2022. The outcome variable was male involvement in maternal care during ANC and birth. We determined the prevalence of male involvement each year to assess the trend across the survey years. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed on the 2022 dataset to evaluate determinants of male involvement in maternal healthcare. Results : There was an increasing trend in male involvement in antenatal care visits from 2008–2009, from 25.3% (95% CI: 21.5, 29.4) to 35.6% (95% CI: 32.9, 38.5) in 2014 and 70.5% (95% CI: 67.8, 72.9) in 2022. For the 2022 survey year, the prevalence of male involvement in ANC and birth was 47.7%, with the highest rates of male participation among men aged 26–35 years (47.0%), those with a tertiary level of education (57.3%), and formally employed men (55.7%). From the 2022 KDHS, the odds of men's involvement increased with increased levels of men’s education. Wealth status was also significantly associated with men's involvement; men from the richest households were twice as likely to be involved (aOR: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.82–4.45) than men from the poorest households were. Conclusion : Male involvement in maternal care has increased over the years. To sustain and further enhance this trend, targeted interventions should focus on addressing socioeconomic disparities and promoting male-friendly maternal health services.