Table 4 Family-centred PMTCT intervention models: Qualitative assessments
From: Family-centred approaches to the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV
Citation, country, sample size | Design | Target group | Family-centred PMTCT programme components | Outcomes | Study limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[18] Mlay et al, 2008; Tanzania; 18 women, 16 men, 11 counsellors | Cross- sectional | Women and men of childbearing age | Women and men were asked to identify their views concerning couples voluntary counselling and testing for HIV, couples' motivation to receive results together, and effective ways of counselling sero discordant couples | Categories identified: community sensitization; male involvement; caring; resentment; abandonment/divorce; violence Recognition of a cultural belief that ANC is exclusively for women Many participants were unaware that sero-discordancy existed | This qualitative study may have been influenced by selective enrolment and should not be viewed as a representative sample |
[17] Theuring et al, 2009; Tanzania; 124 men | Cross- sectional | Male partners | Assessment of male attitudes regarding partner involvement in ANC/PMTCT interventions Examination of barriers preventing regular programme attendance | Among the convenience sample of males interviewed, 99% expressed positive regard for joint counselling Among males who were having children, only 46% had attended ANC/PMTCT services The primary external barrier to ANC/PMTCT services identified was "lack of knowledge and information" | Study sample of men included some individuals aged 50+ years, who are less likely to be involved in family planning |
[16] Tijou Traoré et al, 2009; Côte d'Ivoire; 26 women and 10 men | Prospective cohort | Pregnant women and partners | Assessment of couples' decision- making process concerning infant feeding in the framework of a MTCT-Plus programme | Interviews showed that initial individual preferences were subject to conjugal negotiation, and conflicts were often resolved after revelation of HIV status to spouse Most women associated refraining from breastfeeding with an internal moral suffering; this feeling was reinforced by social pressures | Small scale of study is illustrative and not generally applicable Selective enrolment of participants who were receptive to study Attitudes may have been influenced by the project's biomedical model |