Abstract:

The challenge of incorporating men in HIV prevention from mother to child transmission (PMTCT) activities has remained a major barrier to women’s adoption of basic PMTCT activities. Available research that has been done to incorporate men in PMTCT activities used women as the sample. PMTCT was introduced in Cameroon in 2000 and in the Fundong Health District in 2002. This study was aimed at determining factors that influence men’s participation and involvement in PMTCT programs. A descriptive cross-sectional correlation design was used with 384 participants ranging in age from 24 to 77 years. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. Structured questionnaires were given to 384 men in six randomly selected health areas. A focus group discussion was held with randomly selected key PMTCT service providers in the district. Stata version 10 was used to do univariable and multivariable analyses on the data. Respondents had a mean age of 42.83 and a standard deviation of 10.41. The level of involvement was above average. There was a positive correlation between the age and level of men’s involvement in PMTCT. Knowledge and awareness had an adjusted OR (95%CI) of 5.24(2.78, 9.85) with a P-value of 0.01. Socio-cultural factors had an adjusted OR (95%CI) of 2.98(1.73, 5.11) with a P-value of 0.01. Hospital-based factors had an adjusted OR (95%CI) of 1.53(0.93, 2.53) and a P-value of 0.09. In conclusion, even though socio-cultural factors were seen as deterrents, men’s role and participation increased with more knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the PMTCT programme and the manner in which nurses offer PMTCT services.

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