Socio-cultural factors influencing male involvement in home-based care for people living with HIV and AIDS in Maseno Division, Western Kenya

Background: Home-based care has emerged as an effective method of providing costeffective and compassionate care to those infected with HIV and AIDS. Traditionally, women have been in the forefront in the provision of care for those infected with HIV and AIDS. However, there was low male involvement in home-based care services and little research has been done.Objective: To investigate socio-cultural factors that influence male involvement in home-based HIV and AIDS care in Western Kenya.Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive study.Setting: Maseno division Western Kenya.Subjects: Two hundred and fourty eight (248) caregivers selected fromregistered support groups in Maseno Division, Western Kenya.Results: Overall, 29% of the caregivers were male, 75% took care of close relatives and 59.7% of the respondents had not received formal training on home-based care. Those respondents who had no employment indicated low levels of male involvement than those who had employment (χ2=17.18, p=0.001). Male caregivers performed fewer nursing activities such as changing soiled beddings (μ =1.97, SD=0.95) compared to the general activities like buy and carry food home (μ=2.95, SD=1.15). Respondents who had high number patients were statistically more likely to report lower levels of male involvement than those who had lower number of patients χ2=61.69, p= 0.025. Although 92% agreed that men should be involved in care giving, over 50% said that it is taboo for men to cook or fetch water, that care giving is for women, and the men who participate in housework are considered weak or bewitched. Male involvement in home-based care variables were negatively correlated with socio-cultural variables. For example, there was a significant strong negative relationship between taboo for married man to cook with men cook and feed HIV patients (r =- 0.69, P=0.01). Conclusion: Full participation of males’ in HIV home care is hindered by the current socio-cultural constraints. There is need to address it through health education using context-specific and culturally-sensitive messages