Factors affecting men’s involvement in maternity waiting home utilization in North Achefer district, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Maternity waiting home (MWH) is a direct strategy to improve newborn and maternal survival. The utilization of MWH, however, remains very low in Ethiopia. Men involvement in maternal health programs is a key strategy to increase utilization of maternal health services, including MWH. This study defines men involvement in-terms of men’s participation in deciding to admit their spouse to an MWH, accompanying their spouse to an MWH, providing financial support, availing food at an MWH, and taking care of the home or children. Thus, the current study aims to identify factors affecting men’s involvement in MWH utilization. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 1st to December 30th, 2018. Four hundred three men were involved in the study. Data were analyzed by the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 23. Independent predictors were identified by a multivariable logistic regression model. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. RESULTS: Men’s involvement in MWH was 55.6% (50.71, 60.45). Age (AOR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.82–0.94), knowledge about MWH (AOR = 4.74, 95% CI = 2.65–8.49), decision-making power (AOR = 4.00, 95% CI = 1.38–11.57), and receiving counseling about MWH during spousal antenatal care visits (AOR = 9.15, 95% CI = 3.34–25.03) had statistically significant associations with men’s involvement in MWH utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly, half of the male partners were involved in MWH utilization. Men’s age, MWH knowledge, decision-making power, and receiving counseling were factors affecting their involvement in MWH utilization. Interventions targeting to improve male involvement in MWH utilization should focus on building men’s knowledge about MWH, increasing male involvement in ANC with an appropriate level of counseling about MWH, and changing patriarchal thinking in society with appropriate behavioral interventions such as community-based health education.