title: Assessment of peer-based and structural strategies for increasing male participation in an antenatal setting in Lilongwe, Malawi.
abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, although male involvement in antenatal care is associated with positive outcomes for HIV-infected women and their infants, men rarely accompany female partners. We implemented a project to increase the number of male partners attending an antenatal clinic at Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. We evaluated changes in the proportion of women who came with a partner over three periods. During period 1 (January 2007 - June 2008) there was didactic peer education. During period 2 (July 2008 - September 2009) a peer-led male-involvement drama was introduced into patient waiting areas. During period 3 (October 2009 - December 2009) changes to clinical infrastructure were introduced to make the clinic more male-friendly. The proportion of women attending ANC with a male partner increased from 0.7% to 5.7%, to 10.7% over the three periods. Peer education through drama and male-friendly hospital infrastructure coincided with substantially greater male participation, although further gains are necessary.
authors.forename: Steve M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mphonda
authors.forename: Nora E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Esmie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamanga
authors.forename: Innocent
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mofolo
authors.forename: Gertrude
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mwale
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boa
authors.forename: Mwawi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mwale
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinson
authors.forename: Irving
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Mina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hosseinipour
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012747:Sexual Partners