Factors Associated with Male Partner Involvement in Programs for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Rural South Africa

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2017-11, Vol.14 (11), p.1333
• Main Authors: Matseke, Motlagabo G, Ruiter, Robert A C, Rodriguez, Violeta J, Peltzer, Karl, Setswe, Geoffrey, Sifunda, Sibusiso
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Attitudes; Children; Children & youth; Communication; Correlation analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease transmission; Domestic violence; Family planning; Family roles; Gender; Global health; Health facilities; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - transmission; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infants; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - prevention & control; Male; Males; Maternal & child health; Maternal and infant welfare; Mens health; Middle Aged; Mothers; Participation; Pregnancy; Prenatal care; Prevention; Public health; Reproductive health; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social psychology; Social support; Sociodemographics; South Africa; STD; Studies; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14111333

Male partner involvement (MPI) can contribute to the success of programs aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. However, the definition and measures of MPI differ according to context. This study utilized secondary cross-sectional data to investigate the prevalence and determinants of MPI among 463 male partners of HIV-infected pregnant women in rural South Africa. Results indicated that 44.1% of male partners reported involvement in most or all specified male partner involvement activities (i.e., scores of 7 to 9). Descriptive, correlation and multiple linear-regression analyses were conducted. Positive predictors of MPI included relationship status, own HIV status, awareness of female partner's positive HIV status, female partner's desire to have more children, having family planning discussions with provider, condom use to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and partner reasoning skills. Negative predictors included partner verbal aggression. Overall, although MPI is low, the study underlines important information that could be used to develop interventions aimed at improving maternal and infant health in PMTCT programs in South Africa.