Male involvement in utilization of emergency obstetric care and averting of deaths for maternal near misses in Rakai district in Central Uganda

Although studies have assessed male involvement in birth preparedness and complication readiness, little is known about their involvement after the onset of maternal near miss complications. This information is important in developing appropriate strategies for male involvement in accessing emergency obstetric care (EmOC) in order to reduce Uganda’s high maternal mortality ratio. The study examined the roles played by men after the onset of maternal near miss complications in Uganda. A qualitative study using narratives of 40 purposively selected maternal near misses and in-depth interviews of 10 randomly selected men was conducted. Results showed that men were involved in postpartum uptake of long term contraceptive methods, management of obstetric complications, decision making, social support, transport arrangements and provision of financial support to access EmOC. Therefore, men should be sensitized on the recommended haemorrhage medication during home births, the need for supervised deliveries and prompt referral of their wives to health facilities.