Only 3.4% of Nigerian men accompany their partners to antenatal clinics — UN women expresses concern

UN Women in Nigeria has expressed alarm over the minimal participation of men in maternal healthcare, indicating that a mere 3.4% of men attend antenatal and postnatal visits with their partners.

This information was shared during a training event in Makurdi, Benue State, aimed at encouraging male engagement in antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC), and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT).

During the event, Acting Deputy Representative Mrs. Patience Ekeoba, along with UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, highlighted recent findings that reveal inadequate male involvement in maternal health.

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Eyong noted, “The physical presence and active participation of men is critically low. Evidence indicates that only 3.4% of men accompany their partners to clinic visits; overall male involvement is at 13.8%; only 3.3% attend more than two visits; and the average Male Involvement Index is 19.8%.”

She attributed the low participation rates to damaging cultural beliefs, stigma, misinformation, and insufficient family support, warning that this ongoing trend is detrimental to the health of women and children within communities.