Abstract:
Background: Providing HIV voluntary counseling and testing to men who attend their partner's prenatal care is an intervention with potential to reduce HIV transmission to women and infants during the vulnerable period of pregnancy. However, the current status of male involvement in partner testing is low in Ethiopia. Objectives: To assess male involvement on antenatal HIV counseling & testing and associated factors among male in Andabet woreda, Nouth gonder, Northwest Ethiopia,2017. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among male partners who visit labor ward while their spouses attending labor in Andabet woreda health centers were invited to participate in the study between January to March 2017.A total of 404 participants were enrolled through systematic sampling method. Trained data collectors were collect data using pretested structured questionnaire. Data was edited & entered Epi-Info and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Descriptive statistics was computed to describe study objectives. Bivariate & multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors associated with male partners’ HIV counseling & testing. The odds ratio at 95% CI was used to describe the association between independent and outcome variables. Result: A total of 399(98.2%) male partners were interviewed. About 180(45.1%) of respondents were in the age group of 39-40 years and 285(71.4%) of the participant had no-formal education. In this study, the prevalence of male partner HIV counseling & testing was found to be 148(37.1%) (95% CI: 33%–42%). Independent predictors of partner HIV testing were discus on HIV (AOR=3.90, 95 %, CI:1.94-7.85), were attend monthly women meeting (AOR=3.3, 95%CI:1.51-5.67), were live not far from 5km (AOR =3.17 ,95%CI:1.41-7.16), were aware availability of PMTCT service (AOR=3.36 95%CI:1.66-6.79), were perceive antenatal clinic give service for both sex (AOR=5.95 ,95%CI:3.07-11.56) and were perceive partner HIV testing is important (AOR=3.32,95%CI:1.45-7.63). Conclusion & Recommendation: The prevalence of male involvement on HIV testing was found to be suboptimal compared to similar studies in Ethiopia. There is a need of interventions on partners who are lived more than 5 km from the health facility. Accessing uninterrupted HIV testing services to all primary healthcare including health posts. Need awareness creation on PMTCT service by providing HIV partner testing education and involving male partners on monthly women meeting are important. Key words; Male partner antenatal HIV testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), factors, Andabet woreda.