Factors associated with acceptability of HIV self-testing among health care workers in Kenya

AIDS Behav. 2014 Jul;18 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):S405-14. doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0830-z.

Abstract

Health care workers (HCWs) in sub-Saharan Africa are at a high risk of HIV infection from both sexual and occupational exposures. However, many do not seek HIV testing. This paper examines the acceptability of an unsupervised facility-based HIV self-testing (HIVST) intervention among HCWs and their partners and factors associated with uptake of HIVST among HCWs. HCWs in seven large Kenyan hospitals were invited to participate in pre-HIVST information sessions during which they were offered HIVST kits to take home for self-testing. A post-intervention survey was conducted among 765 HCWs. Forty-one percent attended the information session; of those, 89% took the HIVST kits and of those, 85% self-tested. Thirty-four percent of surveyed HCWs used the HIVST to test themselves. Of those who took the HIVST kit and had partners, 73% gave the kit to their partner and 86% of them indicated their partner self-tested. Factors positively associated with use of the HIVST on self were being female, being single, and being a HCW from Homa Bay Hospital (located in a high HIV prevalence area). HIVST is acceptable to HCWs and their partners. However, strategies are needed to increase HCWs attendance at pre-implementation information sessions.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Hospitals, Public
  • Humans
  • Kenya
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / psychology
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data
  • Medical Staff, Hospital / psychology
  • Medical Staff, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Occupational Exposure / statistics & numerical data
  • Self Care / psychology
  • Self Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires