Development, Implementation, and Scale Up of the National Campaign to Promote HIV Test and Treat Services Uptake Among Men in Tanzania

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2022

Journal

American journal of men's health

Volume

16

Issue

2

DOI

10.1177/15579883221087838

Keywords

HIV Test and Treat; Tanzania; campaign; implementation science; men; scale-up; social and behavior change

Abstract

Evidence has demonstrated that immediate HIV treatment initiation upon a positive HIV test, referred to as Test and Treat, can help people living with HIV live longer, healthier lives and prevent HIV transmission. Although Tanzania adopted the evidence-based Test and Treat strategy since 2016, men were not being adequately reached for HIV services. A national campaign was launched to promote the new HIV services with a focus on men. To inform the development and implementation of the campaign, we conducted formative audience insights-gathering (AIG) sessions to assess facilitators and barriers to accessing HIV Test and Treat services and inform the concepts and materials for the campaign. Qualitative AIG interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 54 people who were unaware or aware of their HIV status and currently or not currently on treatment, as well as health workers. Facilitators and barriers included a of testing positive, the desire to , their narratives, and themselves to achieve their dreams and live a happy life. The campaign played off a creative concept to position antiretroviral therapy (ART) as a solution to fears around what life would be like after a positive HIV diagnosis. The development and implementation of the campaign were informed by the AIG sessions and national stakeholders, leading to strong partners' buy-in that supported the scale-up of the ongoing campaign from 12 to 26 regions via the collaborative efforts of government, donors, and implementing partners.

Department

Prevention and Community Health

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