Male Partner’s Involvement In Human Immune Difeciency Virus Testing And Counseling And Associated Factors Among Partners Of Pregnant Women In Dendi District, West Shoa Zone Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023

Abstract

Background: Male partner Involvement is a crucial component to optimize antenatal care of mother to child transmission of HIV service. Without intervention, the risk of mother to child transmission of HIV ranges from 25 to 35% in developing countries. Male partners’ involvement has been considered as a first priority to focus intervention to be intensified in prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV but it remained one of the biggest challenges in Ethiopia. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess male partner’s involvement in HIV/AIDS testing and counseling and associated factors among partners of pregnant women in Dendi district, West Shoa Zone Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 study participants in the Dendi district. Study participants were selected by using a simple random sampling technique from March 1 to April 30, 2023. Data were collected using pretested, structured, and interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered using Epi-Data 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 26. Binary logistic regression analysis was computed and variables with p-value < 0.25 were considered as candidates for multivariable logistic regression. Adjusted Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval was estimated to identify association and for multivariable logistic regression Statistical significance was declared at a pvalue <0.05. Results: A total of 406 partners of pregnant women were included in the study with a response rate of 96.6%. Overall, a total of 32.8% (95% CI: 31.6-38.2%) of partners of pregnant women were involved in HIV/AIDS testing and counseling. Heard about HIV/AIDS from health care providers(AOR = 4.01,[95% CI: 2.09, 7.71]), having diploma and above(AOR= 4.26,[95 % CI ; 1.77, 10.2]), discussed maternal health issues with health care providers(AOR = 2.47,[95% CI: 1.27 – 4.79]), joint decision to seek health facility(AOR = 8.6, [95 % CI:4.16 – 17.7]), wife received more than 4 prenatal visits(AOR = 2.35,[95 % CI:1.29, 4.28]), duration of living together in marriage(AOR= 10,[95% CI:3.89, 25.9]). , knowing at least one timing of MTCT (AOR = 3.91, [95 % CI: 1.79 – 8.57]) and at least one PMTCT method (AOR = 5.71, [95 % CI: 2.66 – 12.2]) were significantly associated with male partners involvement in HIV/AIDS testing and counseling. Conclusion: HIV testing uptake among partners of pregnant women was low. Having diploma and above, discussed on maternal health issues with health care providers, joint decision to seek health facility, wife receiving more than 4 prenatal visits, duration of living together in marriage, know at least one timing of MTCT and at least PMTCT method were found to be significantly associated with male involvement in HIV testing and counseling. Therefore, program designers and implementers should work on knowledge of Partners on mother to child HIV transmission and prevention methods. In addition consider and strengthen activities that increase couple HIV testing and counseling.