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Couple Efficacy and Communal Coping for HIV Prevention Among Kenyan Pregnant Couples

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Abstract

Involving both partners of a couple in HIV prevention can improve maternal and child health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. Using data from 96 couples, we explored the actor and partner effects of perceived relationship dynamics on a couple’s confidence and ability to reduce HIV risk together. Perceived relationship quality altered perceived confidence and ability to reduce HIV threat. One’s own ability to confidently act together with their spouse appeared to be stronger for husbands than wives with respect to relationship commitment. A partner’s confidence to communicate with their spouse about HIV risk reduction appeared to be stronger from husbands to wives for relationship satisfaction and trust. Gender differences in perceived relationship quality and effects on communal coping may exist and requires further study for applicability in intervention development in this setting. Efficacious couple-oriented interventions for HIV prevention should incorporate evidence on how partners mutually influence each other’s health beliefs and behaviors.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the study participants and the dedicated researchers/lay counselors (Moses Okombo Ayany, Irene Awuor Jimbo, Jane Atieno June, Julius Odiwuor June, and Celestine Adhiambo Ngerhe) and co-investigators (Dr. Elizabeth Bukusi, Dr. Lynae Darbes, Dr. Abigail Hatcher, George Owino, and Zachary Kwena) for their contributions to this study. The authors acknowledge the important role of the KEMRI-UCSF Collaborative group, the Director of KEMRI, the Director of KEMRI’s Centre for Microbiology, and the Nyanza Provincial Ministries for their support in conducting this research. The research described in this manuscript was supported by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), though Grant R34MH102103. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Pamela Musoke & Janet M. Turan

  2. Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Lynae Darbes

  3. Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Abigail M. Hatcher

  4. Sparkman Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 517 RPHB, 1665 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA

    Pamela Musoke, Anna Helova & Janet M. Turan

  5. Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya

    Zachary Kwena, George Owino & Elizabeth A. Bukusi

  6. Department of Global Health and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Elizabeth A. Bukusi

  7. Care and Treatment Programme, Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya

    Elizabeth A. Bukusi

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  1. Pamela Musoke
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  2. Lynae Darbes
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Correspondence to Pamela Musoke.

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Appendix

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Table 4 Pairwise bivariate correlations between relationship quality and couple efficacy and communal coping in reducing HIV threat
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Musoke, P., Darbes, L., Hatcher, A.M. et al. Couple Efficacy and Communal Coping for HIV Prevention Among Kenyan Pregnant Couples. AIDS Behav 26, 2135–2147 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-021-03559-4

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