Determinants of male participation in prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). A case study of Mzumbe ward, Morogoro

Abstract

This study explored determinants of male participation Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) a case study of Mzumbe ward Morogoro. Specific objectives of the study were to examine male participation in PMTCT service, to identify factors that impinges or facilitates male participation in PMTCT service in Mzumbe ward and identify effects of male participation in PMTCT service in Mzumbe ward. The study adopted a case study design. Data for this study were collected through interview, focus group discussions, observation and documentary review. A sample size of fifty (50) respondents comprising of twenty eight (28) male and twenty two (22) female were used in this study. Purposive and Accidental sampling techniques were used to establish sample size of fifty respondents. The analysis was done using content analysis approach. The analysis was guided by variables generated in conceptual framework and organized by logic flow of research objectives and research questions. The findings indicate that, majority of men in the community think that providing financial support to their sexual partners was involvement enough and no further involvement should be expected from them. Although there are men who participate in PMTCT service but majority of male in the community do not participate in the program main reasons include, lack knowledge about PMTCT service, fear of getting Tested, presentation of male in the reproduction health policy, communication between couples, time and schedule of PMTCT clinic, privacy and confidentiality, income status of individual and occupation status. The study indicates that low male participation in PMTCT service lead to low utilization by pregnant women and their infants in PMTCT services and this lead to high maternal and infant morbidity/mortality rate. Therefore, there is necessary need for the government to formulate policies and strategies that will encourage male participation in PMTCT services.