The Role of Male Partner Involvement on Mother's Adherence to PMTCT Care and Support, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Background: Ethiopia is one of the top 20 countries affected by HIV in the world. Not only a proportion of women receiving antiretroviral prophylaxis in PMTCT program are small, but also adherence among the users is poor. The utilization and adherence of PMTCT services by the pregnant women may be influenced both by factors related to health system and individual factors. This study aimed to point out the role of male-partner involvement on mother’s adherence to PMTCT care and support in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Method: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Tigray region from May to June, 2013 among 315 HIV positive pregnant women who had been taking antiretroviral drugs in the PMTCT program. We selected the study participants using systematic random sampling using medical registration number. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the predictors that affect the level of adherence to PMTCT using SPSS 20 for windows. Result: The adherence rate of mothers towards PMTCT care and support was 84.9%. HIV positive pregnant mothers with better male involvement had 8 times more odds to adhere to PMTCT care and support as compared to their counterpart (AOR=8.4; 95% CI:4.2, 12.9). Similarly, mothers with higher knowledge on PMTCT care and support (AOR=6.20, 95% CI of (3.10, 9.30), positive attitude (AOR=8.2; 95% CI: 4.3, 12.6), who had preferred birth spacing (AOR=8.2, 95% CI: 3.8, 14.1) and those who had prior discussion on HIV test with their partners (AOR=12.0; 95% CI: 6.2, 15.3) were more likely to adhere to PMTCT care and support. Conclusion: The adherence rate of mothers towards PMTCT care and support was fair. Attitude towards to and knowledge on PMTCT, discussion with husband on an HIV test, male partner involvement, access to information through radio and sufficient birth space were significant predictors of adherence to PMTCT.