Male Partner’s Involvement in HIV Counselling and Testing and Associated Factors among Partners of Pregnant Women in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background. Despite the existence of several programmes promoting male involvement in HIV counselling and testing during their wife's pregnancy as a part of PMTCT, few men have heeded the call. The aim of this study was to assess male partner's involvement in HCT and its associated factors. Methods. This study was based on institution based cross-sectional study design that used systematic random sampling technique. A total of 416 partners were interviewed in the data collection. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify the independent predictors. Result. In this study, the prevalence of male involvement in HCT was found to be 40.1% (95% CI: 35.3%–44.7%). The independent predictors of male involvement were partners who were younger, were cohabitant, were with multigravida wives, were knowledgeable on route of mother-to-child transmission, and discussed HCT. Conclusion. The prevalence of male involvement in HCT was found to be suboptimal compared to similar studies in Ethiopia. There is a need of interventions on partners who are older, separated, and with lower gravidity wife. Awareness creation campaign should also be created on the route of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and on the importance of discussion with wife.

Male involvement in prevention of mother to child transmission of human immuno virus and associated factors among partners’ of reproductive age women at Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross sectional study

“…17, 5.14). This finding is consistent with a previous studies conducted at Mekele, Northern Ethiopia and Arba Minch town and Zuria Woreda, Southern Ethiopia [8,11]. This could be due to the fact that their partners did not tell the need to go with them and utilize PMTCT services might failed to appreciate the importance of males' involvement for prevention HIV infection from mother to child.…”

“…The study result revealed that 21.2%, (95%CI 17.8%, 24.8%) of males were involved in PMTCT of HIV program. Our finding is comparable with a previous studies reported from Gondar town, North west Ethiopia, and Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia 20.9% and 20%, respectively [10,11]. This implies that male participation in PMTCT of HIV is poor.…”

“…However, studies showed that male involvement in PMTCT of HIV is low [6]. Studies conducted in Thailand, Uganda, Kenya, Mekelle Ethiopia and Gondar Ethiopia showed that the prevalence of male involvement in the PMTCT of HIV were 46%, 5%, 31%, 20.1%, and 27.3%, respectively [7][8][9][10][11]. Age, residence, marital status, educational level, occupational status, average monthly income, and distance from the health institution were the significant risk factors for the PMTCT of HIV in a previous studies [12][13][14][15].…”

Improving male involvement in antenatal care in low and middle-income countries to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV: A realist review

“…Table 2 identifies basic characteristics of study setting and type of the included studies. Of the 44 articles included, 24 were qualitative studies [ 13 , 14 , 18 – 23 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 39 – 51 ], 10 were cross sectional studies [ 26 , 51 – 59 ], 3 were cohort studies [ 24 , 60 , 61 ], 3 were systematic reviews [ 12 , 16 , 17 ], 3 were randomised control trials [ 62 – 64 ], and 1 used mixed methods [ 15 ].…”

Male Involvement in Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Associated Factors in Ambo Town, Ethiopia

“…In Ethiopia, where the proportion of men who have been tested for HIV is as low as of 15% (21) especially in rural area, the male partner reception of HIV testing and counseling also remained to be low where only one fourth (24.7%) of mothers have their partners screened for HIV at ANC (22). The male partner involvement in PMTCT is found to be less in low-middle income countries including Ethiopia where only about 40%-50% of women have their partners participate in PMTC (23,24). However, great effort is put on strengthening the PMTCT services among HIV positive women in Ethiopia, less is known about the reason for the less or non-involvement of male partners in the service.…”