The role of male partners in women’s participation in research during pregnancy: a case study from the partners demonstration project
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: The exclusion of pregnant women from health research remains a significant challenge globally. In settings where cultural traditions and gender norms support a more restricted decision-making role for women in general, little is known about the attitudes of male partners toward the inclusion of women in research during pregnancy. Understanding the expectations of both men and women in such cultural settings offers an opportunity to engage and address local ethical concerns to improve women's access to research during pregnancy and enhance intervention development. In this paper, we present a qualitative research ethics case study, drawn from the Partners Demonstration Project of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Kenya, regarding the role of male partners in decision-making to continue PrEP during pregnancy. PrEP is an effective HIV prevention tool; however, since pregnant women were excluded from early PrEP clinical trials, safety and efficacy data during pregnancy are limited. Given continued high rates of HIV infection for women, some pregnant women are now being provided with PrEP or are involved in PrEP research. Men and women in our study were equally concerned about the health risks of PrEP to the fetus and depended on healthcare provider guidance to understand these risks. Because the demonstration project enrolled couples, an implicit social expectation for many women's continuation of PrEP during pregnancy was consultation with male partners. Some women reported that consenting to participate was exclusively a woman's decision; however, many reported that they deferred to their male partner's opinion and support during the decision-making process. Most male partners believed women should not participate in research studies without their partner's permission, while a few men believed participation was ultimately a woman's decision. We suggest that relational autonomy can support a middle ground for informed consent that promotes women's autonomy while accommodating partner engagement.
Source: Reproductive Health
Language: English
Topic: Ethics in Clinical Research
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
Funders: United States Agency for International Development, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gilead Sciences, University of Washington, Wellcome Trust, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: Delivery of integrated PrEP and ART for HIV prevention for couples in Kenya, In Their Own Voices: Vulnerabilities & Abilities of Women, Children, & Families in Health Research, Pediatric HIV-1 in Africa: Pathogenesis and Management, G2319251904, 'The Global Health Bioethics Network: a programme to carry out ethics research and build ethics capacity across the Wellcome Trust's Major Overseas Programmes.', G2732545372, 'The Global Health Bioethics Network: a programme to carry out ethics research and build ethics capacity across the Wellcome Trust's Major Overseas Programmes.', G3663721632, G3820666216, G4327497402, Delivering PrEP in Pregnancy, In Their Own Voices: Vulnerabilities & Abilities of Women, Children, & Families in Health Research, APP - AAD 936-3090, G6546035474, University of Washington Foundation - to conduct a placebo-controlled proof-of-concept phase III trial of the safety and efficacy of TDF and FTC/TDF in reducing HIV acquisition among HI..., G6868616705, G7033575271, G7551235651, G7965387109, G8863239898
OpenAlex ID: W2773540153