Male Partner Involvement in Maternal Health Care: Knowledge and Practices Among Partners of Teenage Mothers in a Philippine Community

This study assessed the knowledge and practices on maternal health care among partners of teenage mothers in a selected community setting. It specifically examined socio-demographic characteristics, the extent of knowledge and practices in prenatal, intranatal, and postnatal care, and the relationships among these variables. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed with 50 respondents selected through community-based sampling. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, and Chi-square test of independence at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that most respondents were 19 years old and above, high school graduates, engaged in labor-related occupations, and belonged to low-income households. Overall, respondents demonstrated high knowledge and often practiced maternal health care, with stronger engagement observed during prenatal and intranatal stages than postnatal care. Chi-square results showed no significant relationship between most socio-demographic variables and knowledge and practices, except for occupation (knowledge) and age (practices). A significant relationship was also found between knowledge and practices, indicating that higher knowledge leads to better maternal health behaviors. The study concludes that improving knowledge is essential in enhancing practices among partners of teenage mothers.