Factors associated with HIV-testing and acceptance of an offer of home-based testing by men in rural Zambia

AIDS Behav. 2015 Mar;19(3):492-504. doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0866-0.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to describe HIV-testing among men in rural Lusaka Province, Zambia, using a population-based survey for a cluster-randomized trial. Households (N = 120) were randomly selected from each of the 42 clusters, defined as a health facility catchment area. Individuals aged 15-60 years were invited to complete questionnaires regarding demographics and HIV-testing history. Men testing in the last year were defined as recent-testers. After questionnaire completion adults were offered home-based rapid HIV-testing. Of the 2,828 men, 53 % reported ever-testing and 25 % recently-testing. Factors independently associated with ever- and recent-testing included age 20+ years, secondary/higher education, being married or widowed, a history of TB-treatment and higher socioeconomic position. 53 % of never-testers and 57 % of men who did not report a recent-test accepted home-based HIV-testing. Current HIV-testing approaches are inadequate in this high prevalence setting. Alternative strategies, including self-testing, mobile- or workplace-testing, may be required to complement facility-based services.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Serodiagnosis / methods
  • AIDS Serodiagnosis / statistics & numerical data*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Educational Status
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • Home Care Services / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prevalence
  • Program Evaluation
  • Rural Health Services
  • Rural Population
  • Self Care / psychology
  • Self Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Zambia / epidemiology