HORIZONS PROJECT
Reducing STD/HIV Risk Among Pregnant Women and Their Partners in Zimbabwe

Because men play an important role in decisionmaking, there is increasing interest in promoting male involvement in reproductive health, including during pregnancy. Pregnancy may be a period of opportunity for promoting positive norms and behaviors among couples because of their shared interest in the well-being of the mother and child. Because more than 90 percent of pregnant women in Zimbabwe use antenatal care (ANC) services, these services may be a good venue to reach many women and potentially their male partners with information and counseling.

Building on these factors, the University of Zimbabwe and the Horizons program conducted an intervention study that examined whether the promotion of male involvement in their partners’ pregnancy would lay the groundwork to help couples practice HIV-protective behaviors during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Intervention activities included community outreach conducted by farm health workers, a group talk given to women at the ANC clinic, and couple-oriented counseling during the ANC consultation. In addition, written materials for men on pregnancy and reproductive health and on the importance of their involvement were produced to reinforce messages given face to face and to reach those men who could not come to the clinic.

Researchers conducted baseline and follow-up surveys with a cohort of pregnant women and their male partners who participated in some or all of the intervention components.

Key findings:

• There was wide community support for male involvement, although men and women differ on its meaning.
• Community outreach was the strongest intervention component, while clinic counseling was the weakest.
• For men, being married, better educated, and employed were associated with greater involvement in their partners' pregnancy.
• Men and women exposed to multiple intervention activities reported the greatest increase in male involvement behaviors.
• The study was unable to detect a positive impact of intervention activities on risk behaviors.

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Location

Zimbabwe

Duration

March 2000–July 2002

Horizons and Population Council researchers

Julie Pulerwitz, Kwame Asiedu, Ellen Weiss

Non-Council collaborators

Alfred Chingono (consultant)

Yanago Bangezhano (Concession District Hospital)

Dr. Shodu (Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health)

Ravai Marindo, Marvellous Mhloyi, Stephen Pearson (Center for Population Studies, University of Zimbabwe)

Lawrence Tongoona (World Health Organization)

Donor

US Agency for International Development

Publications/Resources
Horizons and Population Council researchers' names appear in boldface type. 

2001
"Men and women differ in expectations about male involvement in pregnancy," Horizons Report, Spring. Washington, DC: Population Council. (Contact horizons@popcouncil.org for a copy)

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See Also

• Zimbabwe

• Horizons

• FRONTIERS

• Gender and Family Dynamics

• Gender and Family Dynamics/Men and Male Roles

• HIV and AIDS

• HIV and AIDS/Prevention

• Poverty, Gender, and Youth

• Reproductive Health

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