'Let men into the pregnancy'--men's perceptions about being tested for chlamydia and HIV during pregnancy

to investigate how to prevent transmission of HIV and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) by exploring whether screening of men during pregnancy may be an innovative way to reach men, to increase detection, and to avoid the present gendered responsibility.

an explorative research strategy with in-depth interviews and an analysis informed by grounded theory principles was used.

the northern part of Sweden.

twenty men/becoming fathers in their twenties and early thirties were offered CT and HIV testing and were interviewed about their perceptions about being tested during pregnancy.

Six categories emerged that concerned the men's risk perceptions, reasons for not testing men, benefits and negative consequences associated with being tested, incentive measures for reaching men and the optional time for testing men during pregnancy. The majority of the men perceived their own risk for having CT or HIV to be close to zero, trusted their stable partner, and did not see men as transmitters. They did not understand how men could play a role in CT or HIV transmission or how these infections could negatively affect the child. However, few informants could see any logical reasons for excluding men from testing and the majority was positive towards screening men during the pregnancy.

men's sexual health and behaviour on social and biological grounds will affect the health of women and their children during pregnancy and childbirth. As long as expectant fathers do not count in this 'triad', there is a risk that CT and HIV infections in adults and infants will continue to be an unsolved problem.

knowledge from this research can contribute to influencing the attitudes among health-care providers positively, and inspiring policy changes.