PARTNER DISCLOSURE OF HIV STATUS IN PMTCT PROGRAMME IN NIGERIA

Odusolu PO; Ochejele S; Ekabua JE; Okokwu S; Davies A

Volume : V, Issue : IX, September - 2016

PARTNER DISCLOSURE OF HIV STATUS IN PMTCT PROGRAMME IN NIGERIA

Odusolu Po, Ochejele S, Ekabua Je, Okokwu S, Davies A

Abstract :

Background: Partner involvement is an effective intervention in Prevention of Mother to Child transmission (PMTCT) programmes. The six states studied are among the states with the highest HIV prevalence in Nigeria. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of male partner notification by HIV positive women in the PMTCT programme. Outcome Indicators: Number of HIV positive women who agreed to partner notification Number of partners who responded to partner notification Number of partners who are HIV positive and the discordant rate. Methodology: This was a cross sectional retrospective study using PMTCT registers at all the PMTCT facilities from 1st January to 31st December 2008 in the six states. Results: During the one year study period a total of 94,579 pregnant women accessed PMTCT services and 86,069 (91%) of them accepted HIV testing. Out of these women, 13,773 (16%) were HIV Positive and 7,255 (52.3%) of them agreed to partner notification. A total of 1,315 (18.3%) of the partners responded and 87.6% of them accepted HIV testing. Six hundred and three (52.3%) were HIV positive, giving a serodiscordant status of 47.3%. Conclusion: The number of male partners who responded and had HCT was low compared to the number of women who agreed to partner notification. It is not known if all the male partners were actually notified. Strategies should therefore be developed to ensure direct male partner participation.