Knowledge of mother to child trasmission of HIV and perceived barriers for participating in maternal and child health care among men in Mtwara rural district.

Abstract

A cross sectional survey study was undertaken in Mtwara rural district during June 2005, to determine the Knowledge of MTCT of HIV and perceived barriers of participating in MCH care among Men. Studies have shown that there is lack of men's participation m MCH and PMTCT services, limiting women's uptake of PMTCT services. As PMTCT has just been introduced in Mtwara rural district, this study therefore aimed to find out what men know about MTCT and the barriers that prevents them to participate in MCH services. The findings provide baseline information that will help to design ways to increase men's participation during scaling up of PMTCT. Multistage cluster sampling was used to select Wards, Villages, and Streets. A total of 396 men were interviewed, interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data, and then analysis was done using Epi Info 6.04 version computer program. The study results indicated that 38.4 % have high level of MTCT knowledge, 45.5% moderate level and 16.2% poor knowledge. Men with some education scored higher level of MTCT knowledge than men with no education (p = 0.002). Most of the respondents (90.2%) are willing to support PMTCT strategies if pregnant partner is found to be HIV positive. Willingness to support was found to be high in men with some education than in men with no education (p = 0.001).