Utilization of HIV Test Service Among Pregnant Women's Partners and Its Associated Factors in Selected Sub-Cities of Addis Ababa, 2019: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Significant progress has been made towards achieving the 90-90-90 global targets by 2020. Nationally, 72% of HIV-positive people aged 15-64 years in urban areas were aware of their HIV status. There is low habit of male partner accompanying pregnant women during ANC visit. This study assessed the HIV test service utilization and associated factors among pregnant women's partners in Addis Ababa.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from January to February 2020 in Addis Ababa town. A multistage sampling method was used to recruit 812 participants. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.1 and analysis was done by using SPSS version 25.0. The presence and strength of significant association with outcome variables in multivariable analysis were determined with P<0.05 and at 95% CI, respectively.

RESULTS

Among respondents, 63.7% [95% CI (60-67%)] of pregnant woman partners had tested for HIV/AIDS. Knowledge on the route of HIV transmission from mother to child (AOR=1.9, 95% CI (1.3-2.7)), knowledge on ways of prevention of HIV from mother to child transmission (AOR=0.26, 95% CI (0.17-0.38)), previous history of couple HIV counseling (AOR=3.7, 95% CI (2.3-6.1)), discussion about HCT and ANC services with a partner (AOR=6.3, 95% CI (4.0-9.8)), heard about discordant HIV test result (AOR=1.6, 95% CI (1.4-4)) were significantly associated with partner HIV test.

CONCLUSION

HIV testing service utilization among male partners of pregnant women was good in the study area. The knowledge on ways of prevention of HIV from mother to child transmission, those who received couple HIV counseling before, those who discussed HCT at ANC services with a partner, and heard about discordant HIV test results were predictors of HIV test utilization among pregnant women partner. Therefore, increasing community awareness on the pregnant women partner testing should be planned to enhance male partner HIV testing during in antenatal care follow-up.