Type:

Research

Thematic:

Youth, Gender and Disability

Location:

Blantyre, Thyolo, Lilongwe, Dowa

Funded by:

USAID-US

PI:

John Kadzandira-Malawi and Valerie Flax-UNC

Team:

Alister Munthali-PhD, Jennifer Yourkavitch

Duration:

3 years

Description:

In the context of HIV, martenal and child health are linked in several ways. By following World Health Organization guidelines, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTC) Programme can reduce HIV transmission to <5%. Malawi's Option B+ program initiates all pregnant and breastfeeding women on daily antiretroviral therapy (ART) for life, regardless of their initial CD4 cell count. Many women do not adhere to treatment and drop out of the PMTCT program. This research seeks to understand gender-specific factors that influence women's non-adherence to treatment and participation in the PMTCT program. This qualitative research focuses on martenal, interpersonal, and programmatic/systemic factors that interplay with gender factors to influence attitudes and practices of HIV+ women who are in PMTCT programs and those who do not adhere to medication and have dropped out. In addition, the research seeked to characterize how gender bias influences the type and quality of suport provided by health workers as well as providers', clients', and advocates' perceptions of support in the PMTCT program and the gender-related factors that influence it.