Sexual and Social Network Correlates of Willingness to Self-Test for HIV Among Ever-Tested and Never-Tested Men: Implications for the Tanzania STEP Project.

Journal: AIDS care

Volume: 31

Issue: 2

Year of Publication: 2020

Affiliated Institutions:  a Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior , University of South Carolina , Columbia , SC , USA. b Center for AIDS Research , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA. c Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health , Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences , Dar es Salaam , Tanzania. d National AIDS Control Programme , Dar es Salaam , Tanzania. e Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.

Abstract summary 

We examined factors associated with HIV self-testing (HIVST) willingness among male ever-testers and never-testers who participated in a midpoint survey of a cluster randomized controlled HIV prevention trial in Dar es Salaam. Linear mixed binary logistic regression models were constructed to examine factors (demographic, HIV risk behavior, and sexual/social network) associated with willingness to self-test. Sixtyseven percent of 301 never-testers were willing to self-test for HIV compared to 72% 577 of ever-testers. Among never-testers, having discussed testing for HIV with a sexual partner was the only factor associated with HIVST willingness (2.36, 95% CI: 1.35-4.15). For evertesters, younger men were less willing to self-test than older men while men with higher education were more willing to self-test than less educated men. Having a moderate/great HIV risk perception decreased the odds of HIVST willingness relative to no risk perception (0.40, 95% CI 0.23-0.70) for ever-testers. Discussing HIV testing with a sexual partner and having been encouraged to test for HIV by a friend were associated with higher odds of being willing to self-test (2.22, 2.23; 95% CI 1.34-3.67, 1.14-4.39, respectively) among ever-testers. These findings suggest that HIVST willingness is highly acceptable among both male ever-testers and never-testers.

Authors & Co-authors:  Conserve Donaldson F DF Bay Camden C Kilonzo Mrema N MN Makyao Neema E NE Kajula Lusajo L Maman Suzanne S

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Buguzi S (2018). Tanzania to roll out HIV self-testing, deputy ministry of health reveals. The Citizen.
Authors :  6
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1080/09540121.2018.1537466
SSN : 1360-0451
Study Population
Men,Male
Mesh Terms
Adolescent
Other Terms
HIV self-testing;Tanzania;men;never-testers;social network
Study Design
Randomized Control Trial
Study Approach
,Mixed Methods
Country of Study
Tanzania
Publication Country
England