Indicators of Spousal Support for Good Pregnancy Outcome among Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Aims: Spousal support in prenatal care is an important factor in promoting both maternal and infant health This study assessed the indicators (physical, financial, emotional and social support) that is considered to be important for good pregnancy outcome among pregnant women.

Study Design: The study was a descriptive cross sectional design which involved women attending antenatal clinic at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Place and Duration of Study: Women attending antenatal clinic at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo, State, Nigeria were sampled for this study, between December 2020 and January, 2021.

Methodology: A total of three hundred and ninety-eight (398) pregnant women were randomly sampled for the purpose of this study. Data were collected from the respondents through the use of semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.

Results: Findings reveals that the mean age of respondents was 30±5.6years and 90.7% of them were married. In respect to occupation, 62.3% of the respondents were business women. Findings showed that 53% of the respondents specified that their pregnancy were multiparous while 47% stated that their pregnancy were primiparous. Result showed that 7.3%,8.1%,4.2% and 7.8% considered physical support only, financial support only, emotional support only and social support only as important indicators for spousal support. However, 72.6% of the respondents specified that all the indicators (physical, financial, emotional and social support) are considered to be important for good pregnancy outcome support with pregnancy outcome.

Conclusion: Based on the findings, it was concluded that physical, social, financial and emotional support were considered important for good pregnancy outcome. It is recommended that spouse should give their wives necessary supports required during pregnancy and child birth.