What role can gender-transformative programming for men play in increasing men's HIV testing and engagement in HIV care and treatment in South Africa?
Men are less likely than women to test for HIV and engage in HIV care and treatment. We conducted in-depth interviews with men participating in One Man Can (OMC) - a rights-based gender equality and health programme intervention conducted in rural Limpopo and Eastern Cape, South Africa - to explore masculinity-related barriers to HIV testing/care/treatment and how participation in OMC impacted on these. Men who participated in OMC reported an increased capability to overcome masculinity-related barriers to testing/care/treatment. They also reported increased ability to express vulnerability and discuss HIV openly with others, which led to greater willingness to be tested for HIV and receive HIV care and treatment for those who were living with HIV. Interventions that challenge masculine norms and promote gender equality (i.e. gender-transformative interventions) represent a promising new approach to address men's barriers to testing, care and treatment.
a Center on Gender Equity and Health, Division of Global Public Health , University of California , San Diego , USA.
Paul J
PJ
Fleming
b Division of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.
Chris
C
Colvin
b Division of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.|c Sonke Gender Justice , Cape Town , South Africa.
Dean
D
Peacock
d Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA.|e Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine , University of California , San Francisco , USA.|f Center of Expertise on Women's Health and Empowerment , UC Global Health Institute , San Francisco , USA.
Shari L
SL
Dworkin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D057228:Masculinity; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013019:South Africa
HIV; Masculinity; South Africa; gender-transformative programmes; testing and treatment