Assessing male involvement in childcare and associated factors among fathers of below two in Toke Kutaye district, Central Ethiopia, 2024: a community-based cross-sectional study

TL;DR

This study explores how involved fathers are in childcare for children under 2 in Ethiopia and finds that education and family size are key factors.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into factors influencing paternal involvement in childcare in a specific Ethiopian district.

Findings

Only 36.7% of fathers showed good involvement in childcare practices.

Education level and family size were significant predictors of paternal involvement.

Few fathers participated in essential caregiving activities like feeding or seeking healthcare.

Abstract

Male involvement in child care is increasingly acknowledged as a crucial factor for promoting positive health and developmental outcomes for children, particularly during the critical early years of life. In Ethiopia, low male participation in child-rearing exacerbates public health issues, including high neonatal and under-five mortality rates. This study examines the prevalence and factors associated with paternal involvement in child care among fathers of children under 2 years in Toke Kutaye District, Central Ethiopia.

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 28 to February 16, 2024. A total of 605 fathers with children under 2 years were randomly selected for interviews. Data on male involvement in child care were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were entered using Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed, applying adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess statistical significance, with a p < 0.05. Descriptive statistics were also computed and presented using text, charts, and tables.

The study found that 36.7% of fathers exhibited good involvement in childcare practices. While a majority contributed financially (55.6%) and engaged in play (55.4%), significantly fewer fathers participated in essential caregiving activities like feeding (27.3%) or seeking healthcare during illness (17.1%). Multivariable analysis identified significant predictors of paternal involvement: completing secondary education (AOR = 5.24, 95% CI: 2.64–10.38), having male children (AOR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.094–2.62), first birth order (AOR = 5.66, 95% CI: 2.79–11.45), and fewer family size (AOR = 4.82, 95% CI: 2.58–9.016).

This study underscores the limited yet essential role of fathers in child care within the Toke Kutaye District, revealing a need for targeted interventions to enhance paternal engagement. Promoting educational initiatives could serve as a strategy to foster deeper paternal participation in child-rearing practices, ultimately contributing to improved health and developmental outcomes for children.

Figures