Willingness to Receive HIV Self-Testing Kits from Recent Sexual Partners Among Men in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania: Findings from the STEP Project Baseline Survey

Authors

Kelia N. Olughu, Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. kolughu@gwu.edu.
Gaspar Mbita, Jhpiego, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Larissa Jennings Mayo-Wilson, Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
James S. Ngocho, Department of Epidemiology and Applied Biostatistics, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania.
Geoffrey K. Kangogo, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Frank Mhando, Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Christa Hall, Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Bridge Africa, Building Research Implementation to Drive Growth and Equity (BRIDGE) Africa, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Donaldson F. Conserve, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

5-30-2024

Journal

AIDS and behavior

DOI

10.1007/s10461-024-04330-1

Keywords

HIV; HIV Testing; HIV self-testing Distribution; HIV self-testing in men; Partner-delivered HIV self-testing kits

Abstract

Globally, men are less likely to access HIV services, and addressing HIV service challenges among men is crucial to the global HIV/AIDS response. HIV self-testing (HIVST) has been shown to be a potentially effective strategy in improving HIV testing coverage among men. This study assessed and identified factors influencing willingness to receive HIVST kits from sexual partners among men in Tanzania. Data are from the baseline survey of the Self-Testing Education and Promotion (STEP) project, a five-year study comprising male participants aged 18 or older who self-reported as HIV-negative. Logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with men's willingness to receive HIVST kits from their sexual partners. There were 505 heterosexual male participants enrolled in the study with an average age of 29 years, of whom 69% reported being willing to receive HIVST kits from their sexual partner. Logistic regression models demonstrated that willingness to receive HIVST kits from sexual partners was significantly associated with number of sexual partners within 12 months (aOR = 1.2, 95% CI [1.1-1.3]), awareness of HIVST (aOR = 5.6, 95% CI [3.2-9.5]), previous discussion of HIVST with sexual partners aOR = 14.0, 95% CI [8.0-24.6]), and previous testing for HIV with sexual partners not (aOR = 2.5, 95% CI [1.3-4.7]). These findings suggest additional promotional strategies to improve men's awareness of HIVST and support open conversations about HIVST and HIV testing with sexual partners could improve men's willingness to receive HIVST kits when distributed through their sexual partners.

APA Citation

Olughu, Kelia N.; Mbita, Gaspar; Jennings Mayo-Wilson, Larissa; Ngocho, James S.; Kangogo, Geoffrey K.; Mhando, Frank; Hall, Christa; Africa, Bridge; and Conserve, Donaldson F., "Willingness to Receive HIV Self-Testing Kits from Recent Sexual Partners Among Men in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania: Findings from the STEP Project Baseline Survey" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 4870.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/4870

Department

Prevention and Community Health