Background: Male participation plays an important role in affecting reproductive health outcomes. Communication between a wife and husband regarding reproductive matters is well recognized as a factor influencing good interpersonal relationships.
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess male participation in reproductive health care of women and spousal communications and also to identify factors associated with interpersonal relationship.
Methods: The present descriptive study was conducted among 104 married women aged 18-49 years in a rural community of Haryana during the months of June and July 2019. Study variables included sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive health characteristics, male participation in reproductive health care of women, and interpersonal communication.
Results: Male participation was reported by 72 (69.2%) women with an overall involvement of spouses in antenatal care by 71 (68.3%) women. Joint decisions concerning desired number of children, use of contraceptive, and choice of contraceptive use were reported by 47 (45.2%), 48 (46.2%), and 55 (52.9%) women, respectively. Good interpersonal relationship was reported by 80 (76.9%) women and 67 (64.4%) felt their expectations were fulfilled. Male partners played dominant roles in decisions concerning contraceptive use and place of delivery only. Low socioeconomic status came out to be a significant risk factor of not having good interpersonal relationships (P = 0.02).
Conclusion: Male participation in reproductive health care of women was reasonably high. Spouses were having good interpersonal relationships meeting expectations of women. Efforts should be made for increasing male involvement and encouraging better interpersonal communications for attaining desired reproductive health outcomes for women.
Keywords: Contraception; decision-making; interpersonal relationship; male participation; spousal communication.