Assessment of Men’s Perception of Maternal Health Issues in Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Men have continued to determine and influence decision making in all activities everywhere. Women most of the time depended on them for almost everything. Men have always responded differently how they felt about following their wives to antenatal clinics. Most of men feel that theirs is to provide the resources and it is the women’s business to attend clinics. This explorative and qualitative study was carried out to assess the perception of men on issues relating to maternal health, domestic decision making and child sex preference in Lagos State. This was done with a view to finding out how men feel about following their wives to antenatal clinic, sharing decision making with wife and how child sex preference affected the way they treated their wives. Thirty adults women were interviewed in Badagry area of Lagos State. Results indicated that most men (over 80 percent) feel that they cannot follow their wives to antenatal clinics once they are able to provide the funds needed for the purpose of paying hospital fees. Another 90 percent stated that they cannot occupy the same decision making position with their wives since this will make them look weak. However, only about 20 percent claimed they do not have preference for any child sex and this does not in any way affect the other issues of decision making and antenatal clinic attendance. It is pertinent that there is need to deepen the sensitisation on the need for men to see their wives as partners and not slaves or non equals.