Assessment of male partner involvement in supporting triple ART drug adherence and associated factors among HIV-positive, exclusively breastfeeding women in South Gondar, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Male partner involvement is vital for improving health outcomes. Anti-retroviral (ART) adherence among HIV-positive breastfeeding women in Ethiopia remained a major public health challenge. Cultural, social, and structural barriers often limited male engagement, and research on its impact was scarce. This study aimed to assess male partner involvement in supporting triple ART adherence among HIV-positive breastfeeding women and identify associated factors in South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 408 male partners of HIV-positive, exclusively breastfeeding women. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses identified significant associations at p < 0.05 with 95 % confidence intervals. Of the 408 participants (96.7 % response rate), 27.9 % were involved in supporting triple ART adherence. Male partner involvement was significantly associated with fear of stigma and discrimination [AOR = 3.2, 95 % CI: 2.12–4.83], HIV status disclosure [AOR = 2.8, 95 % CI: 1.98–3.96], and the time taken to walk from home to the health facility [AOR = 3.4, 95 % CI: 1.51–7.66] This study suggests that male partner involvement in supporting triple ART adherence was lower compared to findings from a study conducted in Kenya.