title: Exploring the relevance of male involvement in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV services in Blantyre, Malawi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Male involvement (MI) in Prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) services remains low despite the progress registered in the implementation of the PMTCT program. Male involvement in PMTCT is a fairly new concept in Malawi that has not been fully implemented within PMTCT service provision despite its inclusion in the PMTCT guidelines. One of the reasons for the limited MI is the lack of knowledge on both its relevance and the role of men in the program. Currently, men have been encouraged to participate in PMTCT services without prior research on their understanding of the relevance and their role in PMTCT. This information is vital to the development of programs that will require MI in PMTCT. The objective of this study was to explore the views of men, pregnant women and health care providers on the importance and roles of MI in PMTCT services in Blantyre Malawi.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory descriptive qualitative study was conducted from December 2012 to January 2013 at South Lunzu Health Centre (SLHC) and its catchment area in Blantyre, Malawi. We conducted 6 key informant interviews (KIIs) with health care workers and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) with 18 men and 17 pregnant women. Interviews and discussions were digitally recorded and simultaneously transcribed and translated into English. Data were analyzed using framework analysis approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major themes that emerged on the relevance of MI in PMTCT were a) uptake of interventions along the PMTCT cascade b) support mechanism and c) education strategy. Lack of MI in PMTCT was reported to result into non-disclosure of HIV test results and non-compliance with PMTCT interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male involvement is paramount for the uptake of interventions at the different cascades of PMTCT. The absence of male involvement may compromise compliance with PMTCT interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. lindaalinane@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alinane Linda
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Nyondo
authors.affiliation: Kamuzu College of Nursing, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. afchimwaza@kcn.unima.mw.
authors.forename: Angela Faith
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Chimwaza
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. amuula@medcol.mw.
authors.forename: Adamson Sinjani
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Muula
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D030881:Disclosure; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult