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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Determinants of male involvement in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV programme in Eastern Uganda: A cross-sectional survey
Reproductive Health, Volume 7, No. 1, Article 12, Year 2010
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Description
Background: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) accounts for over 95% of all paediatric HIV infections worldwide. Several studies have shown that male participation in the antenatal care of their spouses together with couple counselling and testing for HIV, increases use of the interventions for HIV prevention. The prevention programme of MTCT (PMTCT) was launched in Uganda in 2000 and Mbale in 2002. Less than 10% of the pregnant women accepted antenatal HIV testing at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in 2003; couple counselling and testing for HIV was low. Therefore, we conducted the study to determine the level of male involvement and identify its determinants in the PMTCT programme. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 388 men aged 18 years or more, whose spouses were attending antenatal care at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, was conducted in Mbale district, Eastern Uganda. A male involvement index was constructed based on 6 questions. The survey was complemented by eight focus group discussions and five in-depth interviews. Results: The respondents had a median age of 32 years (inter-quartile range, IQR: 28-37). The majority (74%) had a low male involvement index and only 5% of men accompanied their spouses to the antenatal clinic. Men who had attained secondary education were more likely to have a high male involvement index (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.3) than those who had primary or no formal education. The respondents, whose occupation was driver (OR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-0.7) or those who had fear of disclosure of their HIV sero-status results to their spouses (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.8), were less likely to have a high male involvement index. Barriers to male involvement in the PMTCT programme were related to both the poor health system, to socio-economic factors and to cultural beliefs. Conclusions: Structural and cultural barriers to men's involvement in the PMTCT programme in Mbale district were complex and interrelated. Community sensitization of men about the benefits of antenatal care and PMTCT and improving client-friendliness in the clinics needs to be prioritised in order to improve low male participation and mitigate the effect of socio-economic and cultural factors. © 2010 Byamugisha et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Byamugisha, Robert
Uganda, Mbale
Mbale Regional Referral Hospital
Norway, Bergen
Universitetet I Bergen
Tumwine, James Kashugyera
Uganda, Kampala
Makerere University College of Health Sciences
Semiyaga, Nulu B.
Uganda, Kampala
Infectious Diseases Institute Ltd, Partners in Prevention
Tylleskär, Thorkild
Norway, Bergen
Universitetet I Bergen
Statistics
Citations: 247
Authors: 4
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1742-4755-7-12
e-ISSN:
17424755
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Quantitative
Study Locations
Uganda
Participants Gender
Male
Female