Wubet Birhan Yigzaw, Setegn Eshetie Kebede, Belay Tessema Belay
Background: Transmission of HIV mother-to-child remains a significant problem in the developing world despite the development and growing availability of effective prevention methods appropriate for resource-limited settings. Male involvement has been recognized as apriority focus area to be strengthened in PMTCT but testing male partners for HIV in the context of preventing mother tochild transmission remains a challenge in most low- and middle-income countries. Objective: To assess male partners involvement in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and associated factors in East Badawacho woreda, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1- 30, 2019 on a sample of 402 male partners whose wife attended ANC visit in the past six months. Results: The overall male involvement in PMTCT of HIV was 52.4% [95% CI (47.6-56.7)]. Good knowledge on PMTCT (AOR=3.27; CI=1.19-9.01), duration of relationship for 11 to 20 years (AOR=0.337; CI=0.14-0.82), attending primary and secondary education, Bad attitude of health professionals towards clients (AOR=0.449: CI=0.21-0.98) and good knowledge on ANC (AOR=6.338; CI=2.13- 18.9) are factors significantly associated with male involvement in PMTCT of HIV. Conclusion: Male involvement in the PMTCT program in East Badawacho district was low (52.4%). Good knowledge on PMTCT and ANC, duration of relationship for 11 to 20 years, attending primary and secondary education, and bad attitude of health professionals were significantly associated with male partner involvement. Community sensitization of men about the benefits of antenatal care and PMTCT and improving client-friendliness in the clinics needs to be prioritized in order to improve low male participation and mitigate the effect of socio-economic and cultural factors.
