Abstract
Prenatal HIV counselling and testing is mainly an entry-point to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, but it may also play an important role in triggering the development of spousal communication about HIV and sexual risks and thus the adoption of a preventive attitude. In Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, we investigated couple communication on STIs and HIV, male partner HIV-testing and condom use at sex resumption after delivery among three groups of pregnant women who were offered prenatal counselling and HIV testing: HIV-infected women, uninfected women, and women who refused HIV-testing. The proportion of women who discussed STIs with their regular partner greatly increased after prenatal HIV counselling and testing in all three groups, irrespective of the women’s serostatus and even in the case of test refusal. Spousal communication was related to more frequent male partner HIV-testing and condom use. Prenatal HIV counselling and testing proposal appears to be an efficient tool to sensitize women and their partner to safer sexual practices.
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Acknowledgements
The primary sponsor of the ANRS 1201/1202/1253 Ditrame Plus study was the french Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS). Hermann Brou was a fellow of the ANRS. Renaud Becquet was a fellow of the French Ministry of Education, Research and Technology and of the French charity SIDACTION. Didier K. Ekouevi was fellow of the French charity SIDACTION. We are indebted to the patients who participated in the ANRS 1201/1202/1253 Ditrame Plus study. We wish to thank the following for their invaluable assistance: Joanna Orne-Gliemann and Stephanie Robinson for translation and Nathalie Bajos, Caroline Moreau, Benoît Ferry and Emmanuel Lagarde for their helpful comments.
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Composition of the Ditrame Plus Study Group ANRS 1201/1202/1253
Bio-medical team: Principal Investigators: François Dabis, Valériane Leroy, Marguerite Timite-Konan, Christiane Welffens-Ekra. Coordination in Abidjan: Laurence Bequet, Didier K. Ekouevi, Besigin Tonwe-Gold, Ida Viho. Methodology, biostatistics and data management: Gérard Allou, Renaud Becquet, Katia Castetbon, Laurence Dequae-Merchadou, Charlotte Sakarovitch, Dominique Touchard. Clinical team: Clarisse Amani-Bosse, Ignace Ayekoe, Gédéon Bédikou, Nacoumba Coulibaly, Patricia Fassinou, Apollinaire Horo, Ruffin Likikouët, Hassan Toure. Laboratory team: André Inwoley, François Rouet, Ramata Touré. Psycho-social team: Hortense Aka-Dago, Alphonse Sihé. Scientific Committee: Stéphane Blanche, Jean-François Delfraissy, Philippe Lepage, Laurent Mandelbrot, Christine Rouzioux, Roger Salamon.
Social Science team: Principal Investigators: Annabel Desgrées-du-Loû, Benjamin Zanou, Coordination in Abidjan and quantitative survey: Hermann Brou, Qualitative survey: Annick Tijou-Traore, Hélène Agbo, Data Management: Gerard Djohan.
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Desgrées-Du-Loû, A., Brou, H., Djohan, G. et al. Beneficial Effects of Offering Prenatal HIV Counselling and Testing on Developing a HIV Preventive Attitude among Couples. Abidjan, 2002–2005. AIDS Behav 13, 348–355 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9316-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9316-6