Okoro OS^1,, Nkwo PO¹, Adiri CO¹, Asimadu EE¹, Nnagbo JE. Eze MI¹

Mother to child transmission of HIV (MTCT) accounts for over 95% of all HIV infection in the children globally. This study evaluated the extent of male participation in the prevention programs of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in Enugu, South Eastern Nigeria. This was a cross sectional study of married men whose spouses were sero-positive for HIV infection and were attending antenatal care at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku/ozalla, Enugu. The extent of male participation in prevention programs of mother to child transmission of HIV was evaluated based on 10structured questions. The result showed that 51.7% of the men were aware of their own HIV status while 53.4% were aware of their wife’s HIV status and that 41.4% of the men were aware of the benefits of PMTCT program. Only 3.4% of the men interviewed have ever attended ANC/ PMTCT clinic with their spouses. Majority of the respondents 94.8% provided financial support to their spouses to attend ANC/PMTCT clinic but only 24.1% of the participants admitted taking time to find out what goes on in the PMTCT clinic. Only 22.4% of the respondents discuss information/interventions offered at the PMTCT clinic with their spouses while 39.7% of the men admitted that they encouraged their spouses to take their PMTCT drugs. The average involvement index for the men was 19.8%. This study demonstrated a low level of male participation index in the PMTCT program. Given the positive influence male participation has on the acceptance of perinatal interventions, there is urgent need to improve male participation in PMTCT services. Also, promotion of couple VCT outside antenatal settings in male friendly and accessible settings should be given priority

Enugu, male participation, mother to child transmission, HIV, southeast