Role of men in women's health service utilisation in northern Nigeria: a qualitative study of women, men and provider perspectives

Background The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey shows poor maternal health in northern Nigeria. Contraceptive use remains low and maternal mortality high. Studies show that cultural norms related to men's decision-making role in the family significantly contribute to this phenomenon.Objectives The assessment was designed to identify barriers to service delivery and utilisation of maternal-health and family-planning services in three northern Nigerian states, focusing on aspects of service delivery affected by husband involvement.Design Qualitative design included 16 focus group discussions and 12 in-depth interviews with facility clients, and 16 in-depth interviews with healthcare providers, in each of the three states.Setting Primary healthcare facilities in three northern Nigeria states: Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto.Participants Women who came to the facility for family-planning services (n=233 in 24 focus groups); women who came for antenatal care (n=97 in 12 focus groups); men married to women who either received antenatal care or delivered in a facility (n=96 in 12 focus groups); mothers of newborns who delivered in a facility (n=36) and healthcare providers (n=48).Results We found gender barriers to contraceptive use and to obtaining maternal healthcare, with some women requiring their husband's permission to use services, even in emergencies. Several supply-side barriers exacerbate the situation. Many healthcare providers would not provide women with a family-planning method without their husbands' presence or approval; some male providers would not admit a woman to deliver in a facility if her husband objected to her being treated by a man and there was no female provider present and some facilities do not have the infrastructure to accommodate men.Conclusion Despite years of programming, barriers to women's family-planning and maternal-health service utilisation persist. State governments in northern Nigeria should invest in additional provider training, improving infrastructure and hiring more female healthcare providers.