Preferences for and Experiences of Antenatal and Postpartum Male Partner Support Among Kenyan Women Living with HIV

Male partner involvement in prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services is linked to improved outcomes for women living with HIV. Yet, rates of male partner support are low. Few studies have evaluated women's preferences for partner support throughout PMTCT. The purpose of this manuscript is to evaluate women's preferences and experiences with male partner support throughout the continuum of antenatal and postpartum care. Participants were surveyed at PMTCT enrollment, delivery, and 6 months postpartum to assess preferences for and experiences with male partner support. Types of support assessed were attending appointments, providing money for transport, providing encouragement, giving advice, attending the delivery, providing medication reminders, helping with chores. A total of 1,217 women were included in this analysis. At baseline, all seven types of support evaluated were important to most women: money for transport (89.8%), encouragement (90.4%), advice (85.9%), delivery attendance (80.3%), medication reminders (80.3%), male partner attendance at appointments (69.3%), and help with chores (61.4%). Among women who wanted that type of support: only 26.6% and 24.2% of women reported that their male partners attended appointments; 81.7% and 74.7% provided money for transport; 49.3% and 58.6% gave advice; 50.6% and 41.7% helped with chores, 68.7% and 63.1% provided medication reminders in the antenatal and postpartum periods, respectively, and 64.1% of partners attended delivery. For each support type, there was a pronounced gap between preferences for and experiences of support. This represents a significant opportunity to improve strategies for support throughout pregnancy.Trial Registration NCT02072603.