Perspectives of Wife-Husband Pairs on Their Roles in Infant and Young Child Feeding Decision-Making in the Context of Malawi's Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission (2016)

Undergraduate: Nainisha Chintalapudi

Faculty Advisor: Valerie Flax
Department: Nutrition

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Studies have examined the role of male involvement in HIV counseling and testing within prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs, but there is no corresponding data on male involvement in infant and young child feeding (IYCF) decision-making and its relation to adherence to infant feeding guidelines. Adherence remains important for limiting HIV transmission through breast milk. We explored wives¿¿¿ and husbands¿¿¿ perceptions of husbands¿¿¿ roles in IYCF decision-making in the context of Malawi¿¿¿s Option B+ PMTCT program through in-depth interviews conducted in the catchment areas of 4 clinics in Lilongwe District. Participants were 15 wife-husband pairs where the wife was ¿¿¿ 18 years, HIV-positive, and had a child < 24 months. The interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Husbands were less well-informed about IYCF recommendations than their wives, who were advised during antenatal PMTCT clinic visits. Most husbands and wives agreed that the wife was responsible for IYCF decision-making. The most important role of husbands in relation to IYCF was to purchase food or provide money for the child. However, this was often a challenge in the face of regular household food insecurity. In conclusion, Malawian husbands and wives reported gendered roles in relation to IYCF decision-making. Strategies should be tested for getting messages on IYCF to husbands through male-friendly radio programs or by encouraging them to attend PMTCT visits with their wives.