title: Barriers to male-partner participation in programs to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in South Africa.
abstract: Efforts to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) in sub-Saharan Africa have focused overwhelmingly on women, to the unintended exclusion of their male partners. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tshwane, South Africa, to determine barriers to male-partner participation during PMTCT. In-depth interviews were conducted with 124 men whose partners had recently been pregnant, and five focus group discussions were held with physicians, nurses, HIV counselors, and community representatives. Qualitative analysis revealed that while most fathers believed that HIV testing is an important part of preparing for fatherhood, there are formidable structural and psychosocial barriers: the perception of clinics as not "male-friendly," a narrow focus on HIV testing instead of general wellness, and a lack of expectations and opportunities for fathers to participate in health care. Coupled with more family-oriented approaches to PMTCT, measurable improvements in the way that male partners are invited to and engaged in HIV prevention during pregnancy can help PMTCT programs to achieve their full potential.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. kevin.koo@yale.edu
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Koo
authors: Jennifer D
authors: JD
authors: Makin
authors: Brian W C
authors: BW
authors: Forsyth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D035141:Voluntary Programs
references: AIDS Care. 2013;25(1):43-8
references: 22670795
references: J Int AIDS Soc. 2011 Apr 26;14:21
references: 21521511
references: AIDS Care. 2010 Sep;22(9):1060-5
references: 20824559
references: Cult Health Sex. 2013;15(3):253-68
references: 22974414
references: J Int AIDS Soc. 2010 Jun 23;13 Suppl 2:S4
references: 20573286
references: AIDS. 2007 Oct;21 Suppl 5:S21-9
references: 18090264
references: AIDS Care. 2010 Dec;22(12):1562-8
references: 20582753
references: AIDS Care. 2009 Feb;21(2):197-206
references: 19229689
references: AIDS. 2012 Nov 28;26(18):2361-73
references: 22948267
references: J Int AIDS Soc. 2011 Sep 13;14:43
references: 21914207
references: Psychol Health Med. 2010 May;15(3):288-313
references: 20480434
references: J Int AIDS Soc. 2010 Jun 23;13 Suppl 2:S5
references: 20573287
references: AIDS. 2011 Jul 31;25(12):1535-41
references: 21610487
references: AIDS Care. 2008 Jul;20(6):700-9
references: 18576172
references: BMC Public Health. 2010 Dec 17;10:769
references: 21167040
references: AIDS Care. 2008 Mar;20(3):356-60
references: 18351484
references: AIDS Behav. 2009 Jun;13 Suppl 1:92-102
references: 19308720
references: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2011 Jan 1;56(1):76-82
references: 21084999
references: AIDS Behav. 2010 Jun;14(3):558-66
references: 19763813
references: BMC Public Health. 2010 Apr 19;10:197
references: 20403152
references: PLoS One. 2009 Nov 02;4(11):e7602
references: 19881884
references: AIDS. 2011 Sep 24;25(15):1887-95
references: 21785321
references: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Oct 17;10:CD009468
references: 23076959
references: Nurse Educ Today. 2004 Feb;24(2):105-12
references: 14769454
references: Soc Sci Med. 2010 Jan;70(2):313-20
references: 19853339
references: J Public Health (Oxf). 2007 Sep;29(3):269-74
references: 17538192
references: Reprod Health Matters. 2009 May;17(33):143-51
references: 19523591