Male Partner Participation in Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of Human-Immunodeficiency Virus (PMCHT) and its Predictive Factors in Bishoftu, Central Ethiopia

Globally, human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is threating the lives of human being. Despite the several programs supporting male partner involvement in the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMCHT), only few male partners have accepted and involved in this process. Regarding this, the present study aimed to assess male partner involvement in the PMCHT and its associated factors in Bishoftu, Central Ethiopia
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 405 male partners whose mates gave birth in Bishoftu during June, 2016. The study population was selected using simple random sampling technique. Data collection was performed by means of a self-administered interview questionnaire. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 20) using Chi-square test and t-test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
A total of 405 male partners participated in this study with a response rate of 96.2%. The mean age of the participants was 34.03±5.8 years. Spousal participation index in the PMCHT service in Bishoftu town was obtained as 211 (52.1%). The significant predictors of male partner participation in the PMCHT programs included low knowledge about PMCHT services (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.27, 95% CI: 1.12-4.57), negative attitude towards these programs (AOR=2.09, 95% CI: 1.23-3.67), unawareness about the provision of PMCHT services in the public health facilities (AOR=2.41, 95% CI: 1.27-4.95), and perceiving attending antenatal care and PMCHT program as only women’s responsibility (AOR=3.96, 95% CI: 2.00-7.81).
As the findings indicated, male partner participation in the PMCHT service was not at a satisfactory level. Consequently, it is highly recommended to equip the male partners with knowledge, as well as positive attitude and perception towards these services.