Factors Affecting Male Involvement in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV :

Abstract

Background: Over 95% of all pediatric HIV infections worldwide are accounted for by the Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV. (MoH, 2009) Numerous studies have shown that male participation in the antenatal care of their spouses together with couple counseling and testing for HIV, increases use of the interventions for HIV prevention. The Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV program was launched in Uganda in 2000.

Main objective: To establish the factors that affect male involvement in the PMTCT program in Makindye Division, Kampala district.

Methodology: The study used a cross-sectional survey design. The sample size was 403 men who had ever had pregnant spouses in Makindye and they were chosen using the cluster sampling technique. Data was collected using semi structured questionnaires. Both descriptive and analytic statistics were used to analyse the data and it was reported in line with the objectives of the study.

Results: The proportion of males who were involved in the PMTCT program was 35.7% (144/403). The men who attained secondary (OR=0.19, CI=0.06-0.59, P=0.004) and primary (OR= 0.21, CI=0.06-0.72, P=0.013) levels of education, those that had knowledge (OR=25.5, CI=7.71-84.62, P˂0.001) of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV, men who resided within 5 kilometers or less (OR=8.7, CI=1.40-53.61, P=0.020) from the health center, men who did not know about the availability of the PMTCT services (OR=23.8, CI=3.81-34.78, P˂0.001), availability of privacy at the health centers (OR=81.3, CI=11.77-562.02, P˂0.001) and those that did not know about the attitudes of the health workers to their clients (OR=618.6, CI=35.75-10704.39, P˂0.001) were significantly associated with male involvement in the PMTCT program. Conclusion: Men who resided within 5 kilometers or less from the health center, those that had knowledge of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV, a good attitude towards male involvement in the PMTCT program, and those that experienced short waiting times at the health centers were more likely to get involved in the PMTCT program. In addition, men who did not know the attitudes of the health workers towards their clients, availability of PMTCT program and availability of privacy at the health facility were also more likely to get involved than those who had an idea. On the other hand, men with primary and secondary level of education were more likely to be involved in the PMTCT program than those with no formal education. Recommendation The study recommends that the Ministry of Health and other stake holders should boost the health workers attitudes through improving their salaries, working conditions and bonuses. They should also create awareness of the PMTCT services through aggressive advertising and sensitizing the population through radio talks and other forms of media. This should be able to scale up uptake of the program services.