The Effects of HIV Self-Testing Kits in Increasing Uptake of Male Partner Testing among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Kenya: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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Date
2019
Authors
Marwa, Tom
Karanja, Sarah
Osero, Justus
Orago, Alloys
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Field Epidemiology Network
Abstract
Introduction: HIV self-testing could add a new approach to scaling up HIV testing with potential of being high impact, low cost, confidential, and
empowering for users. Methods: pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (ANC) and their male partners were recruited in 14 clinics in the
eastern and central regions of Kenya and randomly allocated to intervention or control arms at a ratio of 1:1:1. Arm 1 received the standard of care,
which involved invitation of the male partner to the clinic through word of mouth, arm 2 received an improved invitation letter, and arm 3 received
the same improved letter and, two self-testing kits. Analysis was done using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) at 95% confidence intervals (CI) to calculate
and determine effects of HIV self-testing in increasing uptake of male partner testing. Results: a total of 1410 women and 1033 men were recruited;
86% (1217) women and 79% (1107) couples were followed up. In arm 3, over 80% (327) of male partners took HIV test, compared to only 37%
(133) in arm 2 and 28% (106) in arm one. There was a statistical significance between arm one and two (p-value=0.01) while arm three was
statistically significant compared to arm two (p-value<0.001). Men in arm three were twelve times more likely to test compared to arm one
(aOR 12.45 (95% CI 7.35, 21.08)). Conclusion: giving ANC mothers test kits and improved male invitation letter increased the likelihood of male
partner testing by twelve times. These results demonstrate that HIV self-test kits could complement routine HIV testing methods in the general
population.
Description
An Article Published in Pan African Medical Journal
Keywords
HIV self-testing, ANC mothers, Male partners, Drivers and barriers, Randomized controlled trial, Male involvement