Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Background: Men in sub-Saharan Africa are less likely than women to engage in HIV testing
services resulting in fewer men aware of their HIV status. Reasons for poor HIV testing among
men is associated with individual, social and structural barriers. Structural barriers include lack
of services perceived to be friendly by men such as male health care provider and extension of
service working hours at the facility. To address this problem, The USAID Boresha Afya
Southern zone prograam embarked into implementation of an intervention known as Male
friendly health services in five regions in Tanzania.
Objective: To assess the coverage of the male friendly health services in promoting HIV testing
among men in Wanging’ombe district in Njombe region, Tanzania.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional mixed method study using both quantitative
and qualitative data collection methods. The study was conducted in the catchment area of
Ilembula hospital in Wanging’ombe district. Quantitative data was collected through structured
questions with a sample of 398 men. Qualitative data was collected through indepth interview
with 10 purposively recruited participants including 5 peasant farmers, 2 men employed by the
private sector, and 3 self employed men. STATA was used to analyse Quantitative data and
Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: The findings revealed that, more than half of the respondents were aware of posters
(68%) on HIV testing services, community male volunteer (52%), and availability of male
friendly package (70%). Also majority of men (69%) have tested for HIV at Ilembula hospital
within three years of project implementation. Reasons for not testing for HIV among men were
belief that they are HIV negative (43%). Other reasons included fear of getting the testing results
and their status being disclosed.
Conclusion: Generally, respondents were aware of program components and many of them have
tested for HIV. Reasons for not testing for HIV among men were more of individual rather than
structural reasons. Therefore efforts to increase uptake for HIV testing should address both the
individual and structural reasons that inhibits men from accessing HIV testing services.
