High HIV Positivity Rates Following Large-Scale HIV Self-Testing Implementation in Zimbabwe, 2018–2020
Introduction: HIV self-testing (HIV-ST) is an innovative strategy to increase HIV case identification. This analysis shares the outcomes of HIV-ST implementation within the Zimbabwe HIV Care and Treatment (ZHCT) project for the period October 2018–March, 2020.Materials and Methods: We extracted HIV-...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.606376/full |
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| author | Auxilia Muchedzi Mulamuli Mpofu Fungai H. Mudzengerere Moses Bateganya Tarirai Mavimba Hind Satti Rumbidzai Dhliwayo Tinashe Zulu Talent Tapera Tendai Samushonga Tendai Nyagura Getrude Ncube Taurayi A. Tafuma |
| author_facet | Auxilia Muchedzi Mulamuli Mpofu Fungai H. Mudzengerere Moses Bateganya Tarirai Mavimba Hind Satti Rumbidzai Dhliwayo Tinashe Zulu Talent Tapera Tendai Samushonga Tendai Nyagura Getrude Ncube Taurayi A. Tafuma |
| author_sort | Auxilia Muchedzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: HIV self-testing (HIV-ST) is an innovative strategy to increase HIV case identification. This analysis shares the outcomes of HIV-ST implementation within the Zimbabwe HIV Care and Treatment (ZHCT) project for the period October 2018–March, 2020.Materials and Methods: We extracted HIV-ST data for the period October 2018 to March 2020 from the project database and assessed (1) the proportion of reactive HIV-ST results; (2) the concordance between reactive HIV-ST results against rapid confirmatory HIV tests using Determine™ and Chembio™ in parallel; and (3) the monthly contribution of HIV-ST to total HIV positive individuals identified within project. The Chi-square test was used to assess for statistical differences in HIV positivity between age groups, by sex and district; as well as the difference in HIV positivity between the HIV-ST and index and mobile testing strategies.Findings: Between October 2018 and March 2020, the ZHCT project distributed 11,983 HIV-ST kits; 11,924 (99.8%) were used and 2,616 (21.9%) were reactive. Of the reactive tests, 2,610 (99.8%) were confirmed HIV positive giving a final positivity rate of 21.9%, and a concordance rate of 99.8% between the HIV-ST results and the confirmatory tests. Proportion of reactive results differed by age-groups (p < 0.001); with the 35–49 years having the highest positivity rate of 25.5%. The contribution of HIV-ST to total new positives increased from 10% in October 2018 to 80% at the end of March 2020 (p < 0.001). Positivity rates from HIV-ST were significantly different by age-groups, sex and district (p = 0.04). Additionally, index and mobile testing had a higher positivity rate compared to HIV-ST (p < 0.001).Conclusion: The ZHCT project has successfully scaled up HIV self-testing which contributed significantly to HIV case finding. Countries should consider using the lessons to scale-up the intervention which will contribute in reaching under-served and undiagnosed populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T02:07:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed91265517e546719743b3cd13bcfde2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T02:07:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed91265517e546719743b3cd13bcfde22022-12-21T21:24:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652021-03-01910.3389/fpubh.2021.606376606376High HIV Positivity Rates Following Large-Scale HIV Self-Testing Implementation in Zimbabwe, 2018–2020Auxilia Muchedzi0Mulamuli Mpofu1Fungai H. Mudzengerere2Moses Bateganya3Tarirai Mavimba4Hind Satti5Rumbidzai Dhliwayo6Tinashe Zulu7Talent Tapera8Tendai Samushonga9Tendai Nyagura10Getrude Ncube11Taurayi A. Tafuma12FHI 360, Harare, ZimbabweFHI 360, Gaborone, BotswanaFHI 360, Harare, ZimbabweFHI 360, Durham, NC, United StatesFHI 360, Harare, ZimbabweFHI 360, Durham, NC, United StatesFHI 360, Harare, ZimbabweFHI 360, Harare, ZimbabweFHI 360, Harare, ZimbabweFHI 360, Harare, ZimbabweUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID), Harare, ZimbabweMinistry of Health and Child Care, Harare, ZimbabweFHI 360, Harare, ZimbabweIntroduction: HIV self-testing (HIV-ST) is an innovative strategy to increase HIV case identification. This analysis shares the outcomes of HIV-ST implementation within the Zimbabwe HIV Care and Treatment (ZHCT) project for the period October 2018–March, 2020.Materials and Methods: We extracted HIV-ST data for the period October 2018 to March 2020 from the project database and assessed (1) the proportion of reactive HIV-ST results; (2) the concordance between reactive HIV-ST results against rapid confirmatory HIV tests using Determine™ and Chembio™ in parallel; and (3) the monthly contribution of HIV-ST to total HIV positive individuals identified within project. The Chi-square test was used to assess for statistical differences in HIV positivity between age groups, by sex and district; as well as the difference in HIV positivity between the HIV-ST and index and mobile testing strategies.Findings: Between October 2018 and March 2020, the ZHCT project distributed 11,983 HIV-ST kits; 11,924 (99.8%) were used and 2,616 (21.9%) were reactive. Of the reactive tests, 2,610 (99.8%) were confirmed HIV positive giving a final positivity rate of 21.9%, and a concordance rate of 99.8% between the HIV-ST results and the confirmatory tests. Proportion of reactive results differed by age-groups (p < 0.001); with the 35–49 years having the highest positivity rate of 25.5%. The contribution of HIV-ST to total new positives increased from 10% in October 2018 to 80% at the end of March 2020 (p < 0.001). Positivity rates from HIV-ST were significantly different by age-groups, sex and district (p = 0.04). Additionally, index and mobile testing had a higher positivity rate compared to HIV-ST (p < 0.001).Conclusion: The ZHCT project has successfully scaled up HIV self-testing which contributed significantly to HIV case finding. Countries should consider using the lessons to scale-up the intervention which will contribute in reaching under-served and undiagnosed populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.606376/fullZimbabweHIVself-testingSub-Saharan AfricaHIV testing |
| spellingShingle | Auxilia Muchedzi Mulamuli Mpofu Fungai H. Mudzengerere Moses Bateganya Tarirai Mavimba Hind Satti Rumbidzai Dhliwayo Tinashe Zulu Talent Tapera Tendai Samushonga Tendai Nyagura Getrude Ncube Taurayi A. Tafuma High HIV Positivity Rates Following Large-Scale HIV Self-Testing Implementation in Zimbabwe, 2018–2020 Frontiers in Public Health Zimbabwe HIV self-testing Sub-Saharan Africa HIV testing |
| title | High HIV Positivity Rates Following Large-Scale HIV Self-Testing Implementation in Zimbabwe, 2018–2020 |
| title_full | High HIV Positivity Rates Following Large-Scale HIV Self-Testing Implementation in Zimbabwe, 2018–2020 |
| title_fullStr | High HIV Positivity Rates Following Large-Scale HIV Self-Testing Implementation in Zimbabwe, 2018–2020 |
| title_full_unstemmed | High HIV Positivity Rates Following Large-Scale HIV Self-Testing Implementation in Zimbabwe, 2018–2020 |
| title_short | High HIV Positivity Rates Following Large-Scale HIV Self-Testing Implementation in Zimbabwe, 2018–2020 |
| title_sort | high hiv positivity rates following large scale hiv self testing implementation in zimbabwe 2018 2020 |
| topic | Zimbabwe HIV self-testing Sub-Saharan Africa HIV testing |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.606376/full |
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