Ethiopia - The Influence of Husbands' Approval on Women's Use of Prenatal Care

The influence of husbands' approval on women's use of prenatal care: results from Yirgalem and Jimma towns, south west Ethiopia
Authors: Biratu, B. T.; Lindstrom, D. P.
Produced by: Ethiopian Journal of Health Development (2006)

This article, published in the Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, examines the influence of the attitudes and background characteristics of husbands and wives on prenatal care utilisation, and identifies the role of husband's approval on women's use of prenatal care. Using data collected from 1750 women in a community based survey in south west Ethiopia, the paper finds that husband's approval has a greater effect on prenatal care utilisation than whether a wife wanted the pregnancy or a wife's level of education. It was also found that the impact of a husband's approval on prenatal care is greatest among women under the age of 20.

While cost and availability are major barriers to accessing prenatal care in many developing countries, lack of awareness of the importance of prenatal care and restrictions on women's health seeking behaviour stemming from husband's disapproval remain as important barriers to prenatal care utilization even in areas where services are available. The paper concludes that it is important to target men when designing interventions that are intended to raise the awareness and use of prenatal health- care services. Informational programmes that target young couples and in particular the husbands of adolescent mothers can have potentially large effects on increasing the likelihood that pregnant women seek out formal prenatal care early in their pregnancies.