Patterns of husbands\u27 involvement in spouses\u27 safe motherhood practices in Maco, Compostela Valley Province

This study utilized a survey design using an interview schedule to describe how the pattern of husbands involvement in spouses safe motherhood practices in Maco, Compostela Valley Province. This study purposively selected 44 married male farmers in the locale. The respondents age ranges from 20 to 56 years old and with a mean age of 37 who had mostly attained some secondary education. The respondents have an average number of children of three ranging from one to seven. Respondents have been married to their current spouses within one to 24 years averaging to 10 years of marriage. The mean of the respondents average monthly income is Php 3,700 with income range of Php 1,500-10,000. Most of the respondents consider their role as their spouses partner (20) in family planning and as the financial provider (23) during the prenatal stage. Most of them (27) perceive their role in childbirth/delivery is that they are supposed to be the one who should make sure the birth attendant is a trusted, skilled or been well-known for being efficient in assisting childbirth. Moreover, their most frequently cited role during spouses postnatal is being partners in household chores (27). Furthermore, most of the respondents were able to answer when asked about their spouses safe motherhood activities such as seeking FP information (42), spouses preference of any FP (40), and the knowledge on how many children their spouses want (31). The most frequently mentioned involvement of respondents in FP is by cooperating with their spouses in using a method (16) and they are mostly motivated by the intention to reduce economic pressure (30) and their involvement is mainly facilitated by government programs (15) and hindered by alcohol drinking (18). Moreover, respondents frequently cited nutritious food to be their spouses need during this period (37). Their involvement mostly is by accompanying their spouses in seeking prenatal care (25) motivated by the goal to keep both spouse and child healthy (17). Their involvement is greatly facilitated by advice from relatives and friends (13) and is hindered frequently by their farm workload (19). Moreover, during childbirth, respondents most frequently cited a trusted birth attendant as their spouses need and involve mostly through fetching the birth attendant (22). Their involvement is greatly motivated by being assured of both their spouse and Childs safety (33). Furthermore, their involvement is facilitated by the accessibility of the birth attendant (12) and hindered by its contrary (14) and financial limitations (14). In addition, most respondents consider nutritious food as their spouses postnatal needs (38). Moreover, most husbands involve in their spouses postnatal practices through assisting in the household chores (21) and are mostly motivated by the goal to keep spouse from having relapse (36). Their involvement is facilitated mostly by the time they are able to spend at home (15) and is mostly hindered by their farm workload (22)