Parental and child-level predictors of HIV testing uptake, seropositivity and treatment initiation among children and adolescents in Cameroon

Abstract

Background There is a growing body of evidence positioning targeted provider-initiated testing and counselling (tPITC, also known as index case testing) as a promising HIV case-finding and linkage strategy among children and adolescents. However, the effectiveness and efficiency of this strategy is limited by low HIV testing uptake and case detection rates. Despite this fact, there is very little literature on factors associated with HIV testing uptake, HIV seropositivity and ART-enrolment in tPITC implementation among African children. This study aims to bridge this information gap and contribute in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of tPITC among children and adolescents in Cameroon and beyond.

Correlates of uptake of HIV testing among children and young adolescents in Akwa-Ibom state, Nigeria: a secondary data analysis of the Akwa-Ibom aids indicator survey, 2017

“…Only 14.2% (568) of a total 4037 children and young adolescents who participated in this study have ever been tested for HIV. This is slightly lower compared with result from a population-based survey done in Kenya where 16.4% of children less than 15 years had ever tested for HIV [25]. Contrary to result from this study, more children (34.7%) in a facility based study done in Cameroon had previously been tested for HIV [26].…”

“…This is slightly lower compared with result from a population-based survey done in Kenya where 16.4% of children less than 15 years had ever tested for HIV [ 25 ]. Contrary to result from this study, more children (34.7%) in a facility based study done in Cameroon had previously been tested for HIV [ 26 ]. In achieving population-level viral suppression and epidemic control in a state with the highest prevalence of HIV in Nigeria, a widespread coverage through targeted HIV testing is essential [ 20 ].…”

“…Contrary to the result of this study, Makau, Okwara & Oyore in 2015 discovered that caregiver’s age was a significant predictor of testing uptake [ 37 ]. A similar study done in Cameroon identified the sex of a caregiver as a significant correlate as women were more likely to take their children for HIV testing services [ 26 ]. This could be due to the study being facility-based considering the feminization of uptake of HIV services in Cameroon [ 26 , 38 ].…”

“…A similar study done in Cameroon identified the sex of a caregiver as a significant correlate as women were more likely to take their children for HIV testing services [ 26 ]. This could be due to the study being facility-based considering the feminization of uptake of HIV services in Cameroon [ 26 , 38 ]. The association between caregivers’ educational level and testing uptake is consistent with other studies.…”

A costing analysis of B-GAP: index-linked HIV testing for children and adolescents in Zimbabwe

“…By this definition, none of the index-linked modalities in our analysis would be considered cost-effective as the lowest cost per diagnosis estimated was US$385.35. However, our sensitivity analysis illustrated that when ILHI VT yield was increased from 0.7 to 7%, (as observed in Cameroon [24]), all but two modalities (clinic testing at an urban clinic, and rural caregiver-provided testing), resulted in cost per diagnoses below that US$315 threshold. ILHIVT cost per diagnosis would be more cost-effective if targeted to a higher-prevalence population.…”