Overcoming resistance to HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Personal awareness of HIV serostatus is an essential requirement for effective prevention and treatment, but despite decades of concerted efforts to promote HIV testing, less than 45% of people with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa know their status. 1 Staveteig S Wang S Head S Bradley S Nybro E Demographic patterns of HIV testing uptake in sub-Saharan Africa. ICF International, Calverton, Maryland, USA2013 Google Scholar Major barriers to testing include stigma and discrimination, inaccessibility of services, and low awareness of the benefits of testing and early treatment. Strategies to increase HIV testing have moved beyond fixed clinics to include community-based services, including mobile and home-based HIV testing, and self-testing. These strategies have increased the proportion of people being tested, reduced risk behaviour, 2 Fonner VA Denison J Kennedy CE O'Reilly K Sweat M Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for changing HIV-related risk behavior in developing countries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012; 9 (CD001224.) PubMed Google Scholar and increased linkage to care; however, many people remain unreached and unaware of their HIV status. A hybrid mobile approach for population-wide HIV testing in rural east Africa: an observational studyA hybrid, mobile approach of multiple-disease CHCs followed by HBT allowed for flexibility at the community and individual level to help reach testing coverage goals. Men and mobile populations remain challenges for universal testing. Full-Text PDF