The potential role of mother-in-law in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: a mixed methods study from the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Eli Fjeld Falnes¹  Ingunn MS Engebretsen¹  Thorkild Tylleskär¹  Karen Marie Moland²  Marina Manuela de Paoli³  Sebalda Charles Leshabari⁴ 

[1] Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Postboks 7804, N-5020, Bergen, Norway;Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bergen University College, Postboks 7030, N-5020, Bergen, Norway;Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies, Postboks 2947, N-0608, Oslo, Tøyen, Norway;School of Nursing, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania;

关键词: Male Partner;    Exclusive Breastfeed;    Infant Feeding;    PMTCT Programme;    PMTCT Service;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-11-551

 received in 2010-08-12, accepted in 2011-07-12,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn the Kilimanjaro region the mother-in-law has traditionally had an important role in matters related to reproduction and childcare. The aim of this study was to explore the role of the mothers-in-law in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) service utilization and adherence to infant feeding guidelines.MethodsThe study was conducted during 2007-2008 in rural and urban areas of Moshi district in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. Mixed methods were used and included focus group discussions with mothers-in-law, mothers and fathers; in-depth interviews with mothers-in-law, mothers, fathers and HIV-infected mothers, and a survey of 446 mothers bringing their four-week-old infants for immunisation at five reproductive and child health clinics.ResultsThe study demonstrated that the mother-in-law saw herself as responsible for family health issues in general and child care in particular. However she received limited trust, and couples, in particular couples living in urban areas, tended to exclude her from decisions related to childbearing and infant feeding. Mothers-in-law expected their daughters-in-law to breastfeed in a customary manner and were generally negative towards the infant feeding methods recommended for HIV-infected mothers; exclusive replacement feeding and exclusive breastfeeding.ConclusionsDecreasing influence of the mother-in-law and increasing prominence of the conjugal couples in issues related to reproduction and child care, reinforce the importance of continued efforts to include male partners in the PMTCT programme. The potential for involving mothers-in-law in the infant feeding component, where she still has influence in some areas, should be further explored.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Falnes et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011