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Objective

Will Your Partner Be Attending? Involving men in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in antenatal care clinics in Iringa , Tanzania. Kikumbih N; Motta W; Nielsen-Bobbit J; Mbandi A; Killian R; Mwanga F; Barone M; and Perchal P

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Objective

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  1. Will Your PartnerBe Attending? Involving men in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in antenatal care clinicsin Iringa, Tanzania Kikumbih N;Motta W; Nielsen-Bobbit J; Mbandi A; Killian R; Mwanga F; Barone M; and Perchal P EngenderHealthACQUIRE Tanzania Project

  2. Objective • To explore the feasibility and impact of male involvement initiatives to increase male attendance and service utilization at PMTCT sites

  3. Demographic Profile in Iringa Population size • Total population = 1,737,382 (2010 projection) • WRA = 441,315 HIV/AIDS • National HIV prevalence rate is 5.7% • Iringa HIV prevalence is 16% • Pregnant women HIV prevalence is 5% Source: Tanzania DHS 2010; HIV survey 2008

  4. Background • EngenderHealth’s ACQUIRE Tanzania Project (ATP) supports the MOHSW to increase access to and use of quality family planning and PMTCT services • More than 90% of women attending ANC are tested for HIV,yet most male partners are not informed of PMTCT services [UNAIDS, 2011] • Males have been traditionally seen as “facilitators” of their partners to access RH services [WHO, 2012] • Men accompanying their partners to ANC represents a key opportunity for engaging them in HIV and FP services

  5. Why Male Involvement? • Men make a lot of the decisions regarding reproductive health (e.g., condom use) [WHO, 2012] • Male involvement can: • Reduce stigma and discrimination directed to HIV-positive women (e.g., fear of HIV disclosure) • Improve treatment adherence [Farquhar et al, 2004] • Improve couple communication regarding sexuality issues.

  6. Male Involvement Interventions (2008 onwards) • Training • Infrastructure • Posters • Invitation to men • Men invited to ANC health talks • Male friendly health services provided at ANC • Couples given first priority for PMTCT services

  7. Evaluation Methodology • Program data was collected monthly in all 351 sites providing PMTCT services between 2008 – 2011 • Data collected included: • ANC attendance for women and men • HIV testing • EPI-INFO used for analysis

  8. Results: Increased Male Involvement

  9. Male Partners’ HIV Testing Trend

  10. Ongoing Challenges • RH policies target women instead of couples • Provider bias and negative attitude about men’s participation in ANC and labor/delivery • Male involvement slow to pick-up despite interventions

  11. Lessons Learnt • Local male involvement initiatives can encourage men to accompany their partners at ANC • Men are exposed to correct information on HIV and PMTCT through participation in health talks and couples counseling • Male involvement initiatives have contributed to more men getting tested for HIV, and those positive were referred to care and treatment

  12. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT • PEPFAR • MOHSW • Districts – Council Health Management Teams (CHMTs) • PMTCT sites staff • Engender health Partners

  13. Thank you

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