Factors Hindering Male Participation in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) at National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Huruma Clinic, Nairobi

Abstract

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) occurs when a pregnant woman with Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) passes the virus to her baby either during pregnancy, labour and delivery or breastfeeding period. Vertical transmission during pregnancy is between 20-25%. Globally, about 330,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2011. It is estimate that more than 90% of these infections were through mother-to-child transmission. According to statistics, 1,400,00 – 1,800,000 people were living with HIV and AIDS by the end of 2007. Male involvement in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV still remains a major challenge. This was facility based descriptive cross-sectional study which was aimed at assessing the factors hindering male participation in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) at National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Huruma clinic in Nairobi. The factors studied were demographic characteristics, knowledge and awareness of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and socio-cultural influence on male participation in PMTCT. Systematic random sampling method was used to obtain a sample population of 122 antenatal mothers. The data was collected between October and November 2012 using a structured and semi-structured questionnaire. Data was validated, cleaned, coded and entered in the computer. Data analysis was done using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The results of the study showed that majority of the respondents, 77.87% (n=95), were between the age of 20 to 39 years with the least, 16.39% (n=20) aged between 40-49 years. There were low levels of knowledge and awareness on PMTCT among male partners. Socio-cultural factors were seen to contribute to low male involvement in PMTCT. The study recommends creation of awareness and also formulation of health messages which target men and are culture sensitive.