Male involvement in the implementation of a programme for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS: a case study of Ilala municipality

This case study researched Male involvement in the Prevention of Mother – to - Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS programme in Ilala Municipality, Dar es Salaam Region. It specifically explored on knowledge, attitude, communication behaviors among partners, awareness and perspective of PMTCT programme, and how these factors do affect the uptake of the PMTCT services. A sample of 192 study units was used. Structured administered questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used as data collection instruments, and were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 11.5. Chi- Square test was employed to test significant relationship for each hypothesis at 0.05 levels. Findings of this study revealed that there is insignificant relationship between age and the uptake of PMTCT. The results also showed that there are significant relationships between knowledge/attitudes and the uptake of PMTCT services. Moreover, the study revealed that communication barriers between pregnant women and their husband/partners are the limiting factors of uptake and utilization of PMTCT services. Logistic Regression Analysis Model has revealed that all the limiting factors of knowledge, attitude, and communication behaviors among partners have had a greater chance of influencing the uptake of PMTCT services. The study concluded that HIV/AIDS education aims to increase knowledge and PMTCT awareness among clients and within the community are still low. This can be seen on poor communication among partners, negative attitudes on RH issues and high stigmatization level especially in men and the entire community which results on pregnant women avoid HIV testing, not disclose incase victim, decision to take antiretroviral drugs and fear to replace breastfeeding hence low uptake of PMTCT. Nevertheless, the role of the male is key contributor to community acceptance and support of PMTCT programme but involving them in RH issues poses a challenge, men’ fearness of discovering their own status often makes them to have negative attitudes, rigid, and shy away from HIV-related issues. Gender differences in Ilala society appear to effect on male involvement in reproductive health, which is usually taken as a woman’s concern. Moreover, health facilities are not friendly to attract men to attend. Majority of women/partners depend on their male/partners to provide material support (economically and socially) hence do not make it easy for them to disclose their HIV status if positive thus affect the PMTCT uptake. To expand and strengthen male involvement in reproductive health, male involvement needs to be supported and enhanced. This could be achieved through campaigns by reviewing and assess their effectiveness in promoting male involvement and community awareness have to be included in the District action plan of operations, Service delivery need to be revisited to make it friendly to men. PMTCT acceptances require a change of cultural attitude in the community.