Providers' perspectives on male involvement in family planning in the context of a cluster-randomized controlled trial evaluating integrating family planning into HIV care in Nyanza Province, Kenya

Bibliographic Data

ID19444211
AuthorsAmy R Tao (Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA), Amy Tao (University of California, San Francisco), Maricianah Onono (0000-0001-6847-8762, Kenya Medical Research Institute), Sarah E Baum (0000-0002-5805-1084, Ibis Reproductive Health), Sarah Baum (0000-0003-0395-3520, Ibis Reproductive Health, Oakland, CA, USA), Daniel Grossman (0000-0002-6878-6201, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA), Rachel Steinfeld (Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA), Rachel L Steinfeld (University of California, San Francisco), Craig R Cohen (0000-0001-8654-6634, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA), Elizabeth A Bukusi (0000-0002-2031-2808, Kenya Medical Research Institute), Sara J Newmann (0000-0002-2672-0191, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume27
Issue1
Pages31-37
Publication date2015-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540121.2014.954982
PMID25329436
PMCIDPMC4228374
OpenAlexW2056104363
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited38

Integration of family planning (FP) services into HIV care and increasing male partner involvement in FP are being explored as strategies to reduce unmet need for contraception. Providers' views can give valuable insight into current FP care. We evaluated the perspectives of HIV care providers working at HIV clinics in Nyanza Province, Kenya, on male partner involvement in FP. This qualitative study was part of a cluster-randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of integrating FP into HIV services on contraceptive prevalence among HIV-positive patients in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Thirty individual interviews were conducted among health-care workers at 11 HIV care facilities in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Interviews were conducted from integrated and control sites one year after implementation of FP/HIV integration. Data were transcribed and analyzed using grounded theory methods and ATLAS-ti. Providers supported male partner inclusion when choosing FP and emphasized that decisions should be made collaboratively. Providers believed that men have traditionally played a prohibitive role in FP but identified several benefits to partner involvement in FP decision-making including: reducing relationship conflicts, improving FP knowledge and contraceptive continuation, and increasing partner cohesion. Providers suggested that integrated FP/HIV services facilitate male partner involvement in FP decision-making since HIV-positive men are already established patients in HIV clinics. Some providers stated that women had a right to choose and start FP alone if their partners did not agree with using FP. Integrated FP services may be a useful strategy to help increase male participation to reduce the unmet FP need in sub-Saharan Africa. It is important to determine effective ways to engage male partners in FP, without impinging upon women's autonomy and reproductive rights

Cluster randomised controlled trial · Economic growth · Environmental health · Family medicine · Family planning · Geography · Health care · Population · Psychological intervention · Qualitative research · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Global Maternal and Child Health · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing