Men's Physical Presence at Antenatal Care Visits in Sub‐Saharan Africa: A Pooled Analysis of DHS Data From Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective Men's presence at antenatal care (ANC) visits has been identified as a potential factor for improving maternal and newborn outcomes. However, in sub‐Saharan Africa, participation varies and most research remains country‐specific, overlooking cross‐national variations and contextual factors. This study addresses this gap by using pooled data from Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa to examine the level and predictors of men's physical presence at ANC visits. Methods A cross‐sectional secondary analysis of 5146 male respondents aged 15–59 years was conducted using harmonized data from the IPUMS‐DHS platform. The outcome variable was men's self‐reported physical presence at ANC for their most recent child. Descriptive statistics, and multivariable logistic regression models were employed. Results Overall, 44.2% of men reported attending at least one ANC visit with their partners. Significant predictors of presence at ANC included higher education (aOR = 3.28; 95% CI: 2.61–4.13), being in a marital union (aOR = 1.68; 95% CI:1.23–2.31), rural residence (aOR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.52–1.95), and exposure to family planning messages via radio (aOR = 1.24; 95% CI:1.10–1.40). Younger men were more likely to attend, whereas ambivalent attitudes toward gender roles, particularly responding “don't know” to whether contraception is a woman's responsibility, were associated with lower attendance (aOR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.30–0.73). Conclusions Men's presence at ANC remains suboptimal. Interventions to improve ANC presence should combine education, male‐focused health messaging, and health system adaptations that create inclusive and culturally sensitive spaces for men as supportive partners in reproductive health.