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Allorant A, Muset P, Hodgins C, Kirakoya-Samadoulougou F, Namachapa K, Mbofana F, Panagiotoglou D, Johnson LF, Imai-Eaton JW, Maheu-Giroux M. Temporal Trends and Determinants of HIV Testing at Antenatal Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Pooled Analysis of Population-Based Surveys (2005-2021). J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2024; 95:e97-e105. [PMID: 38180847 PMCID: PMC10769174 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), integrating HIV testing into antenatal care (ANC) has been crucial toward reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. With the introduction of new testing modalities, we explored temporal trends in HIV testing within and outside of ANC and identified sociodemographic determinants of testing during ANC. METHODS We analyzed data from 139 nationally representative household surveys conducted between 2005 and 2021, including more than 2.2 million women aged 15-49 years in 41 SSA countries. We extracted data on women's recent HIV testing history (<24 months), by modality (ie, at ANC versus outside of ANC) and sociodemographic variables (ie, age, socioeconomic status, education level, number of births, urban/rural). We used Bayesian generalized linear mixed models to estimate HIV testing coverage and the proportion of those that tested as part of ANC. RESULTS HIV testing coverage (<24 months) increased substantially between 2005 and 2021 from 8% to 38%, with significant variations between countries and subregions. Two percent of women received an HIV test in the 24 months preceding the survey interview as part of ANC in 2005 and 11% in 2021. Among women who received an HIV test in the 24 months preceding the survey, the probability of testing at ANC was significantly greater for multiparous, adolescent girls, rural women, women in the poorest wealth quintile, and women in West and Central Africa. CONCLUSION ANC testing remains an important component to achieving high levels of HIV testing coverage and benefits otherwise underserved women, which could prove instrumental to progress toward universal knowledge of HIV status in SSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Allorant
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Global and Population Health, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Paul Muset
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Global and Population Health, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Caroline Hodgins
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Global and Population Health, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou
- Research Center in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Clinical Research, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Khumbo Namachapa
- Department of HIV and AIDS, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Francisco Mbofana
- Conselho Nacional de Combate ao SIDA, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Dimitra Panagiotoglou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Global and Population Health, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Leigh F. Johnson
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, City of Cape Town, WC, South Africa
| | - Jeffrey W. Imai-Eaton
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; and
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mathieu Maheu-Giroux
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Global and Population Health, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
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Sonko I, Chung MH, Hou WH, Chen WT, Chang PC. Predictors of HIV testing among youth aged 15-24 years in The Gambia. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263720. [PMID: 35180256 PMCID: PMC8856544 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Worldwide, an estimated 38.0 million people lived with the human immunodeficiency virus in 2019, and 3.4 million young people aged 15~24 years were living with HIV. Sub-Saharan Africa carries a significant HIV burden with West and Central Africa most affected with HIV. Among the young people living with HIV in West and Central Africa, an estimated 810,000 were aged 15~24 years. This study aimed to assess predictors that influence the uptake of HIV testing among youth aged 15~24 years in The Gambia. METHODS The 2013 Gambia Demographic and Health Survey data for youth aged 15~24 years was used. The Andersen behavioral model of health service use guided this study. A cross-sectional study design was used on 6194 subjects, among which 4730 were female. The analysis employed Chi-squared tests and hierarchical logistic regression. RESULTS Less than one-quarter of the youth 1404 (22.6%) had ever been tested for HIV. Young people aged 20~24 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.98), who were females (aOR: 1.13), married youth (aOR: 3.89), with a primary (aOR: 1.23), secondary or higher education (aOR: 1.46), and who were from the Jola/Karoninka ethnic group (aOR: 1.81), had higher odds of having been tested for HIV. Those with adequate HIV knowledge and those who were sexually active and had aged at first sex ≥15 years (aOR: 3.99) and those <15 years (aOR: 3.96) were more likely to have been tested for HIV compared to those who never had sex. CONCLUSION This study underscores the low level of model testing on HIV testing among youth (15~24 years) in The Gambia. Using Anderson's Model of Health Service Utilization, the predisposing factors (socio-demographic and HIV knowledge) and the need-for-care factors (sexual risk behaviors) predict healthcare utilization services (HIV testing) in our study; however, only socio-demographic model explained most of the variance in HIV testing. The low effect of model testing could be related to the limited number of major variables selected for HIV knowledge and sexual risk behavior models. Thus, consideration for more variables is required for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismaila Sonko
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Min-Huey Chung
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hsuan Hou
- Master Program in Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Education, Center of Evidence-Based Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ti Chen
- School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Pi-Chen Chang
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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HIV testing and ethnicity among adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 years in Ghana: what really matters? J Biosoc Sci 2021; 54:812-828. [PMID: 34511162 DOI: 10.1017/s0021932021000456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Despite the high prevalence of HIV among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15-24 years in Ghana, HIV testing remains low among this population. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between ethnicity and HIV testing among AGYW in Ghana. The 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data were used and analyses were restricted to 3325 female participants aged 15-24 years. Chi-squared tests and a logistic regression model were used to assess the association between ethnicity and HIV testing. Furthermore, the PEN-3 cultural model informed the conceptual framework that explained the relationship between ethnicity and HIV testing behaviour. Results from the bivariate analysis showed an association between ethnicity and HIV testing among AGYW (p<0.05). However, when controlling for other behavioural and socioeconomic determinants of HIV testing in the logistic regression, there was no association between ethnicity and HIV testing. The significant predictors of HIV testing were marital status, having multiple sexual partners, and condom use. The AGYW who were married (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.56, CI: 3.46-6.08) or previously married (aOR = 4.30, CI: 2.00-9.23) were more likely to test for HIV compared with those who were never married. Having multiple sexual partners (aOR = 0.41, CI: 0.20-0.85) and condom use (aOR = 0.56, CI: 0.38-0.84) were associated with lower odds of HIV testing. The results provide evidence that ethnicity is not associated with HIV testing among AGYW in Ghana, as the bivariate association was attenuated when other behavioural and socioeconomic determinants of HIV testing were accounted for. These findings highlight the importance of considering individual-level factors, community-level factors, and other socio-cultural factors as they really matter in the development of HIV prevention programmes for adolescent girls and young women in Ghana.
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Medina‐Marino A, Daniels J, Bezuidenhout D, Peters R, Farirai T, Slabbert J, Guloba G, Johnson S, Bekker L, Nkhwashu N. Outcomes from a multimodal, at-scale community-based HIV counselling and testing programme in twelve high HIV burden districts in South Africa. J Int AIDS Soc 2021; 24:e25678. [PMID: 33709542 PMCID: PMC7952633 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Facility-based HIV testing services (HTS) have been less acceptable and accessible by adolescents, men and key populations in South Africa. Community-based HIV counselling and testing (CBCT) modalities, including mobile unit and home-based testing, have been proposed to decrease barriers to HIV testing uptake. CBCT modalities and approaches may be differentially acceptable to men and women based on age. Implementation of multimodal CBCT services may improve HIV testing rates among adolescents and men, and support the roll-out of prevention services. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using aggregate, routine programmatic data collected from 1 October 2015 through 31 March 2017 from a multimodal, at-scale CBCT programme implemented in 12 high-burden districts throughout South Africa. Data collection tools were aligned to reporting standards for the National Department of Health and donor requirements. HIV testing rates (i.e. number of tests performed per 100,000 population using South African census data) and testing proportions by modality were stratified by sex, age groups and heath districts. Descriptive statistics were performed using STATA 13.0. RESULTS Overall, 944,487 tests were performed during the 1.5-year testing period reported. More tests were conducted among females than males (53.6% vs. 46.4%). Overall, 8206 tests per 100,000 population (95% CI: 8190.2 to 8221.9) were performed; female-to-male (F:M) testing ratio was 1.11. Testing rates were highest among young women age 20 to 24 years (16,328.4; 95% CI: 16,237.9 to 16,419.1) and adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years (12,817.0; 95% CI: 12,727.9 to 12,906.6). Home-based testing accounted for 61.3% of HIV tests, followed by near-home mobile unit testing (30.2%) and workplace mobile unit testing (4.7%). More women received HTS via home-based testing (F:M ratio = 1.29), whereas more men accessed work-place mobile testing (M:F ratio = 1.35). No sex differential was observed among those accessing near-home mobile testing (F:M ratio = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS Concurrent implementation of multiple, targeted CBCT modalities can reduce sex disparities in HIV testing in South Africa. Given the acceptability and accessibility of these CBCT services to adolescent girls and young women, evident from their high testing rates, leveraging community-based services delivery platforms to increase access to HIV prevention services, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Medina‐Marino
- Research UnitFoundation for Professional DevelopmentEast LondonSouth Africa
- The Desmond Tutu HIV CentreUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Perelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUSA
| | - Joseph Daniels
- Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorsCharles R. Drew University of Medicine and ScienceLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Dana Bezuidenhout
- Research UnitFoundation for Professional DevelopmentEast LondonSouth Africa
| | - Remco Peters
- Research UnitFoundation for Professional DevelopmentEast LondonSouth Africa
| | - Thato Farirai
- Community‐based HIV Counselling and Testing ProgramFoundation for Professional DevelopmentPretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Jean Slabbert
- Community‐based HIV Counselling and Testing ProgramFoundation for Professional DevelopmentPretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Geoffrey Guloba
- Community‐based HIV Counselling and Testing ProgramFoundation for Professional DevelopmentPretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Suzanne Johnson
- Community‐based HIV Counselling and Testing ProgramFoundation for Professional DevelopmentPretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Linda‐Gail Bekker
- The Desmond Tutu HIV CentreUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Nkhensani Nkhwashu
- Community‐based HIV Counselling and Testing ProgramFoundation for Professional DevelopmentPretoriaSouth Africa
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Myint WW, Washburn DJ, Colwell B, Maddock JE. Determinants of HIV Testing Uptake among Women (aged 15-49 years) in the Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Int J MCH AIDS 2021; 10:221-230. [PMID: 34900391 PMCID: PMC8647194 DOI: 10.21106/ijma.525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many countries have been trying to eliminate Mother-to-Child transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and achieve the 90-90-90 target goals. The targets mean that 90% of People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) know their HIV status, 90% of those who are infected receive Antiretroviral treatment (ART), and 90% of those achieve viral suppression. Despite some progress, the goals have not been met in the Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia, countries with relatively high or growing HIV prevalence. This study identifies the sociodemographic determinants of testing among women in these countries so that better health education and stigma reduction strategies can be developed. METHODS Descriptive and multivariable analyses were conducted using Demographic and Health Survey data conducted in the Philippines (2017), Myanmar (2015/2016), and Cambodia (2014). The outcome variable was having ever been tested for HIV. Independent variables included knowledge and attitudes about HIV and social determinants of health. RESULTS A significant difference in testing rates among women was observed (the Philippines: 5%, Myanmar: 19%, Cambodia: 42%). In Myanmar and Cambodia, women who had more HIV knowledge and less stigma towards PLWHIV were more likely to get tested for HIV than those who did not. Marital status, education, wealth were strong predictors for HIV testing among women. Younger women aged 15-19 and those who live in the rural areas were less likely to get HIV tested than older and those living in urban areas. Employed women were less likely to seek an HIV test than the unemployed in Myanmar and Cambodia, whereas, in the Philippines, the opposite relationship was found. CONCLUSION AND GLOBAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS Women with less education and those less familiar with HIV should be targeted for HIV testing interventions. Stigma reduction and different testing strategies could facilitate early screening leading to improved HIV testing among women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wah W Myint
- Department of Health Promotion & Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
| | - David J Washburn
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Brian Colwell
- Department of Health Promotion & Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jay E Maddock
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
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Pasipamire L, Nesbitt RC, Dube L, Mabena E, Nzima M, Dlamini M, Rugongo N, Maphalala N, Obulutsa TA, Ciglenecki I, Kerschberger B. Implementation of community and facility-based HIV self-testing under routine conditions in southern Eswatini. Trop Med Int Health 2020; 25:723-731. [PMID: 32219945 PMCID: PMC7317513 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Objectives WHO recommends HIV self‐testing (HIVST) as an additional approach to HIV testing services. The study describes the strategies used during phase‐in of HIVST under routine conditions in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). Methods Between May 2017 and January 2018, assisted and unassisted oral HIVST was offered at HIV testing services (HTS) sites to people aged ≥ 16 years. Additional support tools were available, including a telephone hotline answered 24/7, HIVST demonstration videos and printed educational information about HIV prevention and care services. Demographic characteristics of HIVST users were described and compared with standard blood‐based HTS in the community. HIVST results were monitored with follow‐up phone calls and the hotline. Results During the 9‐month period, 1895 people accessed HIVST and 2415 HIVST kits were distributed. More people accessed HIVST kits in the community (n = 1365, 72.0%) than at health facilities (n = 530, 28.0%). The proportion of males and median age among those accessing HIVST and standard HTS in the community were similar (49.3%, 29 years HIVST vs. 48.7%, 27 years standard HTS). In total, 34 (3.9%) reactive results were reported from 938 people with known HIVST results; 32.4% were males, and median age was 30 years (interquartile range 25–36). Twenty‐one (62%) patients were known to have received confirmatory blood‐based HTS; of these, 20 (95%) had concordant reactive results and 19 (95%) were linked to HIV care at a clinic. Conclusion Integration of HIVST into existing HIV facility‐ and community‐based testing strategies in Eswatini was found to be feasible, and HIVST has been adopted by national testing bodies in Eswatini.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robin C Nesbitt
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva), Mbabane, Eswatini
| | - Lenhle Dube
- Eswatini National AIDS Programme (ENAP), Ministry of Health, Mbabane, Eswatini
| | - Edwin Mabena
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva), Mbabane, Eswatini
| | - Muzi Nzima
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva), Mbabane, Eswatini
| | - Mduduzi Dlamini
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva), Mbabane, Eswatini
| | - Nozizwe Rugongo
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva), Mbabane, Eswatini
| | | | | | - Iza Ciglenecki
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva), Geneva, Switzerland
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Tan RKJ, Wong CS. Mobilizing civil society for the HIV treatment cascade: a global analysis on democracy and its association with people living with HIV who know their status. J Int AIDS Soc 2019; 22:e25374. [PMID: 31379133 PMCID: PMC6680091 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Civil society organizations (CSOs) play an essential role in the global HIV/AIDS response. Past studies have described the beneficial role of CSOs in meeting the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 target, but have not explored how political conditions, which influence the ability of CSOs to organize, have an impact on the cascade. This study explores the relationship between measures of democracy and its association with diagnosis rates among people living with HIV (PLHIV). METHODS This study analyses 2016 data derived from the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index (EIUDI), UNAIDS country estimates for PLHIV and PLHIV who knew their status in 2016, World Bank's 2016 data on nominal gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and country population, HIV Justice Network's 2016 data on HIV criminalization, and country-level estimates for PLHIV, PLHIV who know their status, and expenditure on HIV prevention from other independent sources. An estimated HIV prevalence variable was constructed by dividing the estimated PLHIV population with the total population of a country. Analyses were limited to countries with available data on PLHIV who know their status (n = 111). RESULTS Of the 111 countries in the analytic sample, the mean democracy index score was 5.93 (of the 10), median estimated HIV prevalence was 0.20% (IQR 0.10-0.65), median GDP per capita (in thousands, US dollar) was 4.88 (IQR 2.11-13.79), and mean PLHIV who know their status is 67.12%. Preliminary analysis on the five component measures of the EIUDI revealed multicollinearity, and thus the composite democracy index score was used as the measure for democracy. Multivariate linear regression analyses revealed that democracy index scores (β = 2.10, SE = 1.02, p = 0.04) and GDP per capita (in thousands; β = 0.34. SE = 0.11, p < 0.01) were positively associated with diagnosis rates among PLHIV, controlling for country-level expenditure on HIV prevention, HIV criminalization laws and estimated HIV prevalence. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that higher levels of democracy were positively associated with rates of diagnosis among PLHIV. Further analyses following wider implementation of universal testing and treatment is warranted, as well as the need for further research on the mechanisms through which political cultures specifically influence rates of diagnosis among PLHIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayner KJ Tan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public HealthNational University of SingaporeSingapore
| | - Chen Seong Wong
- National Centre for Infectious DiseasesSingapore
- Department of MedicineYong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingapore
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Duflo E, Dupas P, Ginn T, Barasa GM, Baraza M, Pouliquen V, Sharma V. HIV prevention among youth: A randomized controlled trial of voluntary counseling and testing for HIV and male condom distribution in rural Kenya. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219535. [PMID: 31361767 PMCID: PMC6667138 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Voluntary Counseling and Testing for HIV (VCT) and increasing access to male condoms are common strategies to respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Using biological and behavioral outcomes, we compared programs to increase access to VCT, male condoms or both among youth in Western Kenya with the standard available HIV prevention services within this setting. DESIGN A four arm, unblinded randomized controlled trial. METHODS The sample includes 10,245 youth aged 17 to 24 randomly assigned to receive community-based VCT, 150 male condoms, both VCT and condoms, or neither program. All had access to standard HIV services available within their communities. Surveys and blood samples for HSV-2 testing were collected at baseline (2009-2010) and at follow up (2011-2013). VCT was offered to all participants at follow up. HSV-2 prevalence, the primary outcome, was assessed using weighted logistic regressions in an intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS For the 7,565 respondents surveyed at follow up, (effective tracking rate = 91%), the weighted HSV-2 prevalence was similar across groups (control group = 10.8%, condoms only group = 9.1%, VCT only group = 10.2%, VCT and condoms group = 11.5%). None of the interventions significantly reduced HSV-2 prevalence; the adjusted odds ratios were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.61-1.25) for condoms only, 0.94 (95% CI: 0.64-1.38) for VCT only, and 1.12 (95% CI: 0.79-1.58) for both interventions. The VCT intervention significantly increased HIV testing (adj OR: 3.54, 95% CI: 2.32-5.41 for VCT only, and adj OR: 5.52, 95% CI: 3.90-7.81 for condoms and VCT group). There were no statistically significant effects on risk of HIV, or on other behavioral or knowledge outcomes including self-reported pregnancy rates. CONCLUSION This study suggests that systematic community-based VCT campaigns (in addition to VCT availability at local health clinics) and condom distribution are unlikely on their own to significantly reduce the prevalence of HSV-2 among youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Duflo
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | | | - Thomas Ginn
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Vandana Sharma
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America
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