1
|
Ostermann J, Njau B, Hobbie AM, Mtuy TB, Masnick M, Brown DS, Mühlbacher AC, Thielman NM. Divergent preferences for enhanced HIV testing options among high-risk populations in northern Tanzania: a short report. AIDS Care 2023; 35:1270-1278. [PMID: 36063533 PMCID: PMC9985668 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2022.2119471] [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] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
To achieve the UNAIDS target of diagnosing 95% of all persons living with HIV, enhanced HIV testing services with greater attractional value need to be developed and implemented. We conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to quantify preferences for enhanced HIV testing features across two high-risk populations in the Kilimanjaro Region in northern Tanzania. We designed and fielded a survey with 12 choice tasks to systematically recruited female barworkers and male mountain porters. Key enhanced features included: testing availability on every day of the week, an oral test, integration of a general health check or an examination for sexually transmitted infections (STI) with HIV testing, and provider-assisted confidential partner notification in the event of a positive HIV test result. Across 300 barworkers and 440 porters surveyed, mixed logit analyses of 17,760 choices indicated strong preferences for everyday testing availability, health checks, and STI examinations. Most participants were averse to oral testing and confidential partner notification by providers. Substantial preference heterogeneity was observed within each risk group. Enhancing HIV testing services to include options for everyday testing, general health checks, and STI examinations may increase the appeal of HIV testing offers to high-risk populations.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02714140.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Ostermann
- Department of Health Services Policy & Management,
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC,USA
- South Carolina Smart State Center for Healthcare Quality,
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC,
USA
- Center for Health Policy & Inequalities Research, Duke
University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Bernard Njau
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Amy M. Hobbie
- Center for Health Policy & Inequalities Research, Duke
University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tara B. Mtuy
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School
of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Derek S. Brown
- Center for Health Policy & Inequalities Research, Duke
University, Durham, NC, USA
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St.
Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Axel C. Mühlbacher
- Center for Health Policy & Inequalities Research, Duke
University, Durham, NC, USA
- Institut Gesundheitsökonomie und Medizinmanagement,
Hochschule Neubrandenburg, Neubrandenburg, Germany
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University,
Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nathan M. Thielman
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC,
USA
- Center for Health Policy & Inequalities Research, Duke
University, Durham, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|