Condom Use in Male Partners and Associated Factors Among HIV-positive Women Who Accessed PMTCT Services During Pregnancy in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Despite being on antiretroviral therapy, during unprotected sex, a HIV-infected pregnant woman can transmit HIV not only to a HIV-negative sexual partner but also pose a risk for reinfection with new or resistant viral strains between her and a HIV-positive sexual partner, and ultimately to her baby. Condom use is a recognized strategy to reduce this risk if practiced consistently. This study set out to determine condom use and associated factors among a cohort of women who attended PMTCT clinic in Jos University Teaching hospital. Methods: Ninety-six enrolled women provided information about themselves and their male partners via a questionnaire, and other relevant information was obtained from their hospital records. Data obtained was analyzed using Epi info version 7 (CDC Atlanta, GA). The mean age of the women was 36.4±4.5 years. They were predominantly married (90.6%), Christians (75.0%), and educated above primary school level (88.6%). The mean age of the male partners was 45.3±6.1 years and over half of them (57.3%) were HIV-positive. The prevalence of consistent condom use in the participants was low (26.0%). Only 4.2% of male partners had ever received counselling in the PMTCT clinic. Factors significantly associated with condom use were younger age of male partner (mean ± SD=43.0±4.7 years), younger age of pregnant women (mean ± SD=34.2±3.3 years), Christian faith of the women, male partners having ever accompanied their pregnant woman for counselling in the PMTCT clinic and viral load of < 1000 copies/ml (P value=0.0290, 0.0035, 0.0440, 0.0227 and 0.0045 respectively). The practice of consistent condom use among male partners of HIV-positive pregnant women attending PMTCT clinic in JUTH was low, suggesting the need for improved strategies to optimize its usage. Involvement of male partners in PMTCT counselling is significantly associated with consistent condom use and should therefore be advocated to augment efforts towards fighting sexual and perinatal HIV transmission.