Abstract:
Background - The programme of prevention of mother- to-child transmission of
HIV (PMTCT) was rolled out to the entire country in November 2001 after its
launch in April 2000. The role of men had not been clearly defined.
According to the progress report of February 2002 from PMTCT national
coordination unit at family health division ministry of health, countrywide, out of
85% of pregnant women who came for antenatal care (ANC), less than 1% of
these women were accompanied by their partners. However, in Jwaneng, 81%
(526) of women agreed PMTCT counselling for HIV in 2003. Less than 5%
(6/526) of women who agreed to be counseled, were accompanied by their men
since the programme was launched in October 2001 in Jwaneng. In addition,
less than 1% (2/160) of women who tested for HIV came with their partners for
HIV test.
Out of them, 30.5% (160/526) women agreed and tested for HIV. This testing
rate was far less than the national targets of 70%.
Then, 33% (52 women) tested HIV positive and 108 tested HIV negative. Of the
52 HIV positive women, 70% (36 women) joined the PMTCT programme and 4
women did not adhere. Furthermore, of 52 HIV positive women, 60% (32) of
women agreed to receive AZT, adhered and chose one of the recommended
methods of infant feeding.
No study in Botswana had been done in a mining town to establish whether,
there was a need for men to play a role in PMTCT in Jwaneng.
2
The researcher did not know whether Jwaneng pregnant women want their men
or family members to come with them for PMTCT services as a motive for easy
acceptance and increase of the programme uptake.
