Table 1 Summary of results by fathers and mothers concerning the acceptability of the PMTCT programme components
PMTCT components | Fathers | Mothers |
|---|---|---|
Acceptability of routine HIV testing in PMTCT programmes | - purely beneficial | - purely beneficial |
- for the sake of the baby | - for the sake of the baby | |
- 100% of those asked accepted testing of their wives | - 100% accepted testing | |
Testing practice of male partners | - positive attitude | - advantageous |
- few had tested | - difficult to ask partner to test | |
- main barrier: asked by their wife to attend a female arena | - desirable if he could be invited by others | |
Expectations and experiences related to disclosure of HIV status | - a responsibility to support | - fear of partner's reactions |
- a few would treat her badly due to lack of trust | - responsibility to disclose | |
- 95.9% had disclosed to partner | ||
Partners' attitude to condom use | - associated with distrust | - important for prevention |
- unacceptable within the marriage | - main barrier: partner's reluctance | |
- needed to be his decision | - difficult to ask partner to use condoms | |
Role of partner in safe infant feeding | - needed to be informed about wife's HIV status to accept uncustomary infant feeding | - necessary to disclose HIV status to partner to be able to follow infant feeding guidelines |
How to include partners effectively in the programme | - other than the wife invite partner to test | - other than the wife invite partner to test |
- offer partner testing in arenas other than the antenatal clinic | - offer partner testing in arenas other than the antenatal clinic |