Promoting partner and couples HIV testing using self-test kits in Kenya

Abstract

The International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) is an international grant-making non-governmental organization promoting evidence-informed development policies and programs. We are the global leader in funding, producing and synthesizing high-quality evidence of what works, for whom, why and at what cost. We believe that high-quality and policy-relevant evidence will help make development more effective and improve people's lives. 3ie impact evaluations3ie-supported impact evaluations assess the difference a development intervention has made to social and economic outcomes. 3ie is committed to funding rigorous evaluations that include a theory-based design and use the most appropriate mix of methods to capture outcomes that are useful in complex developmental contexts. About this report3ie accepted the final version of this report, Using HIV self-testing to promote male partner and couples testing in Kenya, as partial fulfillment of requirements under grant TW2.2.02 issued under the HIV self-testing thematic window. The content has been copy-edited and formatted for publication by 3ie. All the content is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not represent the opinions of 3ie, its donors or its board of commissioners. Any errors and omissions are also the sole responsibility of the authors.

Relationship Gender Equality and Couples' Uptake of Oral Human Immunodeficiency Virus Self-Testing Kits Delivered by Pregnant Women in Kenya

“…This high proportion underscores the promise of HST to increase testing rates, and corroborates other studies showing high acceptability of HST and high uptake of this testing method, 13,14 including among male partners of pregnant women. 29 In the parent RCT of these analyses, men in the intervention arm had much higher uptake of testing in general compared with the 2 control arms (79.4% vs. 37% and 28%, respectively), and in the intervention arm, 95% of the men who tested for HIV used the HST kit. 23 The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) put forth a target that states by 2020, 90% of people living with HIV should know their status, 90% of people with diagnosed HIV should receive antiretroviral therapy, and 90% of people on antiretroviral therapy should be virally suppressed.…”

Interventions to improve men’s engagement in HIV and other key services in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

“…One intervention for TB-HIV co-infection found that community-based TB screening increased screening efforts but decreased presumed TB and TB positive cases identified. 45 There were a total of 39 community service interventions focused on HIV testing -17 interventions distributed HIVST to men (primary or secondary distribution), [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58] 15 provided community/workforce testing (non-HIVST), 52,53,55,[59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71] and 11 provided home-based HIV testing services. 46,54,61,69,[72][73][74][75] Community services outperformed standard of care facility services 48,52,60,61,65,67,72,73 and mobile and targeted venue testing such as work were more cost...…”

“…63,64,68 Primary distribution of HIVST increased reach testing. 48,52,53,55 Secondary HIVST distribution increased testing among men when given to female partners living with HIV as part of index testing, 47,58 ANC clients, [49][50][51]57 young women, 56 and when HIVST was left for male adults and adolescents who were not home during door-to-door distribution. 48,54 Only one community service intervention examined the impact on linkage for men.…”