Postpartum Partner Support in Mbarara City: Exploring Levels, Mothers’ Needs, and Spousal Contributions

Introduction: The postpartum period is a transitional and potentially stressful time. Spousal support has been reported to enhance a mother’s ability to adapt and deal with new stressors after childbirth; however, in Uganda, little is known about the extent and type of support men provide. Objective To determine the levels of postpartum partner support, explore mothers’ needs, and spousal support provision during postpartum period. Methods This cross-sectional study used quantitative and qualitative data collection approaches. Postpartum Partner Support Scale (PPSS) was used to determine spousal support among consecutively enrolled mothers, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings. Purposively selected mothers and spouses were interviewed using semi-structured interview guides, and the data were analysed thematically. Results The findings revealed an average spousal support rate of 42.96 (SD = 13.61) on a PPSS score ranging from 20 to 74 among 152 mothers assessed. Interviews with ten mothers revealed instrumental support needs (hands-on physical help, finances, and physical presence), emotional support needs (love and care), and informational support needs (advice and decision-making). Interviews with eight spouses revealed that while some men provided financial and occasional practical help, emotional and informational support were often lacking. Conclusion The study reveals that postpartum mothers receive significantly less spousal support than they need across instrumental, emotional, and informational domains. There is need for male-inclusive postpartum education and community sensitization efforts that encourage shared caregiving roles and equip partners to provide meaningful support during the postpartum period.