Female perspectives of male partners' inclusion in the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mondli Miya, Tennyson Mgutshini
PMID 28155303WHAT IT FOUND
Women described being unaware that male partners could attend antenatal HIV prevention visits.
Others reported that clinic staff actively excluded partners. Barriers included lack of space, privacy concerns, and financial constraints. These findings highlight structural and attitudinal obstacles to involving men.
Key findings
01Participants were often unaware that male partners were allowed to attend antenatal care, and some reported that healthcare professionals actively excluded partners.
02Structural barriers such as limited clinic space, long waiting times, and privacy concerns prevented the inclusion of male partners.
03Financial constraints and work commitments were cited as personal barriers to involving men in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in only three selected hospitals, so the findings are not representative of the wider KwaZulu-Natal province or South Africa. Social desirability bias may have influenced responses, as participants might have reported what they believed would not affect their future treatment. The sample size was small (n=15), which limits the transferability of the themes to other contexts.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that specific interventions to increase male involvement will improve health outcomes. This study describes perceived barriers in a small sample from three hospitals and does not test whether addressing these barriers leads to better PMTCT uptake or reduced transmission.