URCHOICE: Preferences for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Options for HIV Prevention Among Kenyan men who have sex with men and Transgender Women in Nairobi, Kisumu and the Coast.

HIV prevention method preferences were evaluated among Kenyan men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) from three sites: Kisumu, Nairobi and the Coast. Information sessions detailing the attributes, duration of protection, route of administration and probable visibility were attended by 464 HIV negative participants, of whom 423 (median age: 24 years) agreed to be interviewed. Across pairwise comparisons daily PrEP was by far the least preferred (1%); quarterly injections (26%) and monthly pills (23%) were most preferred, followed by yearly implant (19%) and condoms (12%). When participants were "forced" to choose their most preferred PrEP option, only 10 (2.4%) chose the daily pill; more (37.1%) chose the quarterly injection than the monthly pill (34.8%) and the yearly implant (25.8%). TW preferred the yearly implant over the quarterly injection. To achieve the rates of PrEP uptake and adherence necessary for protecting large proportions of vulnerable MSM and TW, a variety of long-acting products should be developed and made accessible to appeal to a diversity of preferences.

Implementation fidelity to HIV assisted partner services (aPS) during scale-up in western Kenya: a convergent mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: HIV assisted partner services (aPS) is an intervention to improve HIV status awareness among sex and drug-injecting partners of people newly diagnosed with HIV (index clients). Implementation fidelity-the degree to which an intervention is conducted as intended - is critical to effectiveness, but there are limited data about aPS fidelity when delivered by HIV testing service (HTS) providers. We explored factors affecting implementation fidelity to aPS in two high-HIV prevalence counties in western Kenya. METHODS: We used convergent mixed methods adapting the conceptual framework for implementation fidelity within the aPS scale-up project. This was an implementation study examining scale-up of APS within HTS programs in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties that recruited male sex partners (MSPs) of female index clients. We defined implementation fidelity as the extent to which HTS providers followed the protocol for phone and in-person participant tracing at six expected tracing attempts. Quantitative data were collected from tracing reports in 31 facilities between November 2018 and December 2020, and in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with HTS providers. Descriptive statistics were used to describe tracing attempts. IDIs were analyzed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 3017 MSPs were mentioned of whom 98% (2969/3017) were traced, with most tracing attempts being successful (2831/2969, 95%). Fourteen HTS providers participated in the IDIs-mostly females (10/14, 71%) with a median age of 35 years (range 25-52), who all had post-secondary education (14/14, 100%). The proportion of tracing attempts occurring by phone ranged from 47 to 66%, with the highest proportion occurring on the first attempt and lowest on the sixth attempt. Contextual factors either enhanced or impeded implementation fidelity to aPS. Positive provider attitudes towards aPS and conducive work environment factors promoted implementation fidelity, while negative MSP responses and challenging tracing conditions impeded it. CONCLUSION: Interactions at the individual (provider), interpersonal (client-provider), and health systems (facility) levels affected implementation fidelity to aPS. As policymakers prioritize strategies to reduce new HIV infections, our findings highlight the importance of conducting fidelity assessments to better anticipate and mitigate the impact of contextual factors during the scale-up of interventions.

Prevalence and correlates of condom use at last sexual intercourse pre- and post-COVID-19 lockdown among adolescent girls and young women in central and western Kenya.

We investigated condom use at last sexual intercourse among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) to determine the prevalence and correlates of condom use pre- and post-COVID-19 lockdown. Condom use was compared pre- and post-COVID-19 lockdown using a single group interrupted time series analysis. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to determine the correlates of condom use at last sexual intercourse. We found a statistically significant decrease in prevalence of condom use at last sexual intercourse post-COVID-19 lockdown. Condom use at last sexual intercourse was associated with younger age, current contraceptive use, and higher education. AGYW in concurrent relationships were less likely to use condoms, as were owners of mobile phones. These findings suggest a disconnect between youth knowledge of HIV prevention and their actual condom use, particularly in concurrent sexual partnerships. Future research should explore how dynamic fertility intentions, mobile phone access, concurrent sexual partnerships and empowerment influence condom use among sub-Saharan AGYW.

Cost of integrating assisted partner services in HIV testing services in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties, Kenya: a microcosting study.

BACKGROUND: HIV assisted partner services (aPS), or provider notification and testing for sexual and injecting partners of people diagnosed with HIV, is shown to be safe, effective, and cost-effective and was scaled up within the national HIV testing services (HTS) program in Kenya in 2016. We estimated the costs of integrating aPS into routine HTS within an ongoing aPS scale-up project in western Kenya. METHODS: We conducted microcosting using the payer perspective in 14 facilities offering aPS. Although aPS was offered to both males and females testing HIV-positive (index clients), we only collected data on female index clients and their male sex partners (MSP). We used activity-based costing to identify key aPS activities, inputs, resources, and estimated financial and economic costs of goods and services. We analyzed costs by start-up (August 2018), and recurrent costs one-year after aPS implementation (Kisumu: August 2019; Homa Bay: January 2020) and conducted time-and-motion observations of aPS activities. We estimated the incremental costs of aPS, average cost per MSP traced, tested, testing HIV-positive, and on antiretroviral therapy, cost shares, and costs disaggregated by facility. RESULTS: Overall, the number of MSPs traced, tested, testing HIV-positive, and on antiretroviral therapy was 1027, 869, 370, and 272 respectively. Average unit costs per MSP traced, tested, testing HIV-positive, and on antiretroviral therapy were $34.54, $42.50, $108.71 and $152.28, respectively, which varied by county and facility client volume. The weighted average incremental cost of integrating aPS was $7,485.97 per facility per year, with recurrent costs accounting for approximately 90% of costs. The largest cost drivers were personnel (49%) and transport (13%). Providers spent approximately 25% of the HTS visit obtaining MSP contact information (HIV-negative clients: 13 out of 54 min; HIV-positive clients: 20 out of 96 min), while the median time spent per MSP traced on phone and in-person was 6 min and 2.5 hours, respectively. CONCLUSION: Average facility costs will increase when integrating aPS to HTS with incremental costs largely driven by personnel and transport. Strategies to efficiently utilize healthcare personnel will be critical for effective, affordable, and sustainable aPS.

Incentives for mothers, health workers and "boda-boda" riders to improve community-based referral process and deliveries in the rural community: a case of Busoga Region in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: This study set out to investigate how incentives for mothers, health workers and boda-boda riders can improve the community-based referral process and deliveries in the rural community of Busoga region in Uganda. Both the monetary and non-monetary incentives have been instrumental in the improvement of deliveries at health centres. METHODS: The study was a 2 arm cluster non-randomized control trial study design; with intervention and control groups of mothers, health workers and boba-boda (commercial motor-cycle) riders from selected health centres and communities in Busoga region. Among the study interventions was the provision of incentives to mothers, health workers (midwives and VHTs) and boda-boda riders for a duration of 6 months. Monetary and non-monetary incentives were applied in this study, namely; provision of training, training allowances, refreshments during the training, payment of transport fares by mothers to boda-boda riders, free telephone calls through establishment of a pre-paid Closed Caller User Group (CUG) and provision of bonus airtime to all registered CUG participants and rewards to best performers. The study used a mixed methods design. Descriptive statistical analysis was computed using STATA version 14 for the quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data. RESULTS: Findings revealed that incentives improved community-based referrals and health facility deliveries in the rural community of Busoga. The proportion of mothers who delivered from health centres and used boda-boda transport were 70.5% in the intervention arm and only 51.2% in the control arm. Of the mothers who delivered from the health centres, majority (69.4%) were transported by trained boda-boda riders while only 30.6% were transported by un-trained boda-boda riders. And of the mothers transported by the boda boda riders, 21.3% in the intervention arm reported that the riders responded to their calls within 20 min, an improvement from 4.3% before the intervention. Mothers who were responded to between 21-30 min increased from 31.4% to 69.6% in the intervention arm while in the control arm, it only increased from 37.1% to a dismal 40.3%. Interestingly, as the time interval increased, the number of boda-boda riders who delayed to respond to mothers' calls reduced. In the intervention arm, only 6.2% of the mothers stated that boda-boda riders took as many as 31-60 min' time interval to respond to their calls in post intervention compared to a whopping 54.9% in the pre intervention time. There was little change in the control arm from 53.2% in the pre intervention to 41.2% in the post intervention. CONCLUSION: Incentives along the maternal health chain are key and the initiative of incentivising the categories of stakeholders (mothers, midwives, the VHTs and the boda-boda riders) has demonstrated that partnerships are very critical in achieving better maternal outcomes (health facility-based deliveries) as a result of proper referral processes.

Factors associated with age of first sex among women screened for an observational contraceptive vaginal ring study in Kisumu, Kenya, 2014.

Sex at an early age can have later life negative health outcomes. Insights on early sexual activity may help in the development of future health-promotion products and interventions related to pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevention. Among Kenyan women participating in a contraceptive vaginal ring study, we determined: (1) the proportion with first sex at ≤15 years (early sex) and (2) factors associated with early sex. Baseline data collection and testing for pregnancy, STIs, and HIV were undertaken. A log-binomial or a modified Poisson regression was used to estimate univariable prevalence ratios and multivariable adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs). Among 332 women aged 18-34 years, the median age of first sex was 16 years, with 40.1% experiencing early sex. Overall, 29.8% reported an older first sex partner (≥5 years); 83.9% indicated lack of readiness or intentions at first sex; and 56.2% received money, gifts, or favors as part of first sex. Early sex was more prevalent among inherited widows (a Luo cultural practice, aPR 1.49), gift recipients (aPR 1.38), women with a forced/unwanted sex history (aPR 1.42), or those with a partner of unknown or positive HIV status in the past 3 months (aPR 1.45). Sex before or at the age 15 may be associated with higher sexual risk behaviors. Complex power and gender relations may additionally influence exposure to sexual risk in our research setting.

Community perceptions and personal accounts of HIV discordance in rural western Kenya.

Among HIV-discordant couples, the literature is sparse regarding issues related to stigma, relationships and coping. Objectives were to explore: 1) perceptions about discordant HIV status; 2) understanding of HIV discordancy; 3) effects of discordancy on couples; and 4) adaptation and coping strategies for discordant HIV status. A survey was administered to 202 members of heterosexual discordant couples in rural western Kenya. In addition, to understand the community perspective, in-depth interviews (IDI) (n = 26) and focus group discussions (FGD) (n = 10) were conducted with community opinion leaders, healthcare workers and members of discordant couples. More than 70% of men (73.4%) and women (80.4%) surveyed agreed that their relationship changed for the worse when they disclosed their HIV status to their partner. Participants of IDIs and FGDs provided several explanations for discordancy including the perception that discordancy is a lie, the negative partner has "thick blood", HIV infection is a punishment for sexual promiscuity or cultural disobedience, and that HIV is a punishment from God. Members of discordant couples reported experiencing tension and fear, stigma and rejection, and changes in partner support. Adaptation and coping strategies included counselling, sero-sorting and pursuing concordancy with the uninfected partner. HIV discordancy in a relationship can potentially cause long-term negative emotional and physical consequences. There is an acute need to develop and disseminate locally sensitive HIV-discordant couple counselling messages, and to provide couple-centred HIV care and treatment. Communication can help couples rebuild and rebalance their relationship and adjust to a new normal.

High rates of homicide in a rural South African population (2000-2008): findings from a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: South Africa has continued to receive increasing attention due to unprecedented high levels of violence. Homicide-related violence accounts for a significant proportion of unnatural deaths and contributes significantly to loss of years of expected life. We investigated levels and factors associated with homicide-related deaths and identify communities with excessively high homicide risk in a typical rural South African population. METHOD: Data drawn from verbal autopsies conducted on all deaths recorded during annual demographic and health surveillance in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa were used to derive the cumulative probability of death from homicide over a nine-year period (2000-2008). Weibull regression methods were used to investigate factors associated with homicide deaths. A Kulldorff spatial scan statistic was used to identify spatial clusters of homicide-related deaths. RESULTS: With 536 homicide-related deaths, and a median seven years of follow-up, the study found an overall homicide incidence rate of 66 deaths per 100, 000 person-years of observation (PYOs) (95 % CI 60-72) for the period under study. Death related to the use of firearms was the leading reported method of homicide (65 %) and most deaths occurred over weekends (43 %). Homicides are the second-most common cause of death in men aged 25-34 after HIV-related deaths (including TB) in this community, at 210 deaths per 100,000 PYOs, and was highest among 55-64 year old women, at 78 deaths per 100,000 PYOs. Residency status, age, socioeconomic status, and highest education level attained independently predicted the risk of homicide death. The spatial distribution of homicide deaths was not homogenous and the study identified two clear geographical clusters with significantly elevated homicide risk. CONCLUSION: The high rates of homicide observed in this typical rural South African population - particularly among men - underscore the need for urgent interventions to reduce this tragic and theoretically preventable loss of life in this population and similar South African settings.

A community-based assessment of correlates of facility delivery among HIV-infected women in western Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Childbirth at health facilities is an important strategy to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, improve fetal outcomes, and reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Although access to antenatal care in Kenya is high (>90%), less than half of births occur at health facilities. This analysis aims to assess correlates of facility delivery among recently pregnant HIV-infected women participating in a community-based survey, and to determine whether these correlates were unique when compared to HIV-uninfected women from the same region. METHODS: Women residing in the Kenya Medical Research Institute/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health and Demographic Surveillance System, and who had delivered an infant in the previous year were visited at home in 2011. Consenting mothers answered a questionnaire assessing demographics, place of delivery, utilization of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services, and stigma indicators. Known HIV-positive women were purposively oversampled. Chi-square tests of proportions and multivariate logistic regression, stratified by HIV status, were performed to assess correlates of facility delivery. RESULTS: Overall, 101 (46.8%) HIV-infected and 127 (39.9%) HIV-uninfected women delivered at health facilities. Among HIV-infected women, cost (42.8%), distance (18.8%) and fear of harsh treatment (15.2%) were primary disincentives for facility delivery; 2.9% noted fear of HIV testing was a disincentive. HIV-infected women who delivered at facilities had higher education (p = 0.04) and socioeconomic status (p < 0.005), initiated antenatal care (ANC) earlier (4.9 vs. 5.4 months, p = 0.016), were more likely to know partner's HIV status (p = 0.016), report satisfaction with delivery care (p = 0.001) and use antiretrovirals (87.1% vs. 77.4%, p = 0.063) compared to those with non-facility delivery. Stigma indicators were not associated with delivery location. Similar cofactors of facility delivery were noted among uninfected women. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of facility delivery remains low in Kenya and poses a challenge to elimination of infant HIV and reduction of peripartum mortality. Cost, distance, and harsh treatment were cited as barriers and these need to be addressed programmatically. HIV-infected women with lower socioeconomic status and those who present late to ANC should be prioritized for interventions to increase facility delivery. Partner involvement may increase use of maternity services and could be enhanced by couples counseling.

Vocal local versus pharmacological treatments for pain management in tubal ligation procedures in rural Kenya: a non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Vocal local (VL) is a non-pharmacological pain management technique for gynecological procedures. In Africa, it is usually used in combination with pharmacological analgesics. However, analgesics are associated with side-effects, and can be costly and subject to frequent stock-outs, particularly in remote rural settings. We compared the effectiveness of VL + local anesthesia + analgesics (the standard approach), versus VL + local anesthesia without analgesics, on pain and satisfaction levels for women undergoing tubal ligations in rural Kenya. METHODS: We conducted a site-randomised non-inferiority trial of 884 women receiving TLs from 40 Marie Stopes mobile outreach sites in Kisii and Machakos Districts. Twenty sites provided VL + local anesthesia + analgesics (control), while 20 offered VL + local anesthesia without additional analgesics (intervention). Pain was measured using a validated 11-point Numeric Rating Scale; satisfaction was measured using 11-point scales. RESULTS: A total of 461 women underwent tubal ligations with VL + local anesthesia, while 423 received tubal ligations with VL + local anesthesia + analgesics. The majority were aged ≥30 years (78%), and had >3 children (99%). In a multivariate analysis, pain during the procedure was not significantly different between the two groups. The pain score after the procedure was significantly lower in the intervention group versus the control group (by 0.40 points; p = 0.041). Satisfaction scores were equally high in both groups; 96% would recommend the procedure to a friend. CONCLUSION: VL + local anesthesia is as effective as VL + local anesthesia + analgesics for pain management during tubal ligation in rural Kenya. Avoiding analgesics is associated with numerous benefits including cost savings and fewer issues related to the maintenance, procurement and monitoring of restricted opioid drugs, particularly in remote low-resource settings where these systems are weak. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR201304000495942.

Shifting reasons for older men remaining uncircumcised: Findings from a pre- and post-demand creation intervention among men aged 25-39 years in western Kenya.

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces men's risk of acquiring Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through vaginal sex. However, VMMC uptake remains lowest among Kenyan men ages 25-39 years among whom the impact on reducing population-level HIV incidence was estimated to be greatest at the start of the study in 2014. We conducted a pre- and post-intervention survey as part of a cluster randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of two interventions (interpersonal communication (IPC) and dedicated service outlets (DSO), delivered individually or together) on improving VMMC uptake among men ages 25-39 years in western Kenya between 2014 and 2016. The study had three intervention arms and a control arm. In arm one, an IPC toolkit was used to address barriers to VMMC. In arm two, men were referred to DSO that were modified to address their preferences. Arm three combined the IPC and DSO. The control arm had standard of care. At baseline, uncircumcised men ranked the top three reasons for remaining uncircumcised. An IPC demand creation toolkit was used to address the identified barriers and men were referred for VMMC at study-designated facilities. At follow-up, those who remained uncircumcised were again asked to rank the top three reasons for not getting circumcised. There was inconsistency in ranking of reported barriers at pre- and post- intervention: 'time/venue not convenient' was ranked third at baseline and seventh at follow-up; 'too busy to go for circumcision' was tenth at baseline but second at follow-up, and concern about 'what I/family will eat' was ranked first at both baseline and follow-up, but the proportion reduced from 62% to 28%. Men ages 25-39 years cited a variety of logistical and psychosocial barriers to receiving VMMC. After exposure to IPC, most of these barriers shifted while some remained the same. Additional innovative interventions to address on-going and shifting barriers may help improve VMMC uptake among older men.

Providing HIV-assisted partner services to partners of partners in western Kenya: an implementation science study.

INTRODUCTION: Assisted partner services (APS), or exposure notification and HIV testing for sexual partners of persons diagnosed HIV positive (index clients), is recommended by the World Health Organization. Most APS literature focuses on outcomes among index clients and their partners. There is little data on the benefits of providing APS to partners of partners diagnosed with HIV. METHODS: We utilized data from a large-scale APS implementation project across 31 facilities in western Kenya from 2018 to 2022. Females testing HIV positive at facilities were offered APS; those who consented provided contact information for all male sexual partners in the last 3 years. Male partners were notified of their potential HIV exposure and offered HIV testing services (HTS). Males newly testing positive were also offered APS and asked to provide contact information for their female partners in the last 3 years. Female partners of male partners (FPPs) were provided exposure notification and HTS. All participants with HIV were followed up at 12 months post-enrolment to assess linkage-to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and viral suppression. We compared HIV positivity, demographics and linkage outcomes among female index clients and FPPs. RESULTS: Overall, 5708 FPPs were elicited from male partners, of whom 4951 received HTS through APS (87% coverage); 291 FPPs newly tested HIV positive (6% yield), an additional 1743 (35.2%) reported a prior HIV diagnosis, of whom 99% were on ART at baseline. At 12 months follow-up, most FPPs were taking ART (92%) with very few adverse events: <1% reported intimate partner violence or reported relationship dissolution. FPPs were more likely than female index clients to report HIV risk behaviours including no condom use at last sex (45% vs. 30%) and multiple partners (38% vs. 19%). CONCLUSIONS: Providing HIV testing via APS to FPP is a safe and effective strategy to identify newly diagnosed females and achieve high linkage and retention to ART and can be an efficient means of identifying HIV cases in the era of declining HIV incidence. The high proportion of FPPs reporting HIV risk behaviours suggests APS may help interrupt community HIV transmission via increased knowledge of HIV status and linkage to treatment.

Effectiveness of HIV self-testing when offered within assisted partner services in Western Kenya (APS-HIVST Study): a cluster randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Assisted partner services (APS) is an effective strategy for increasing HIV testing, new diagnosis, and linkage to care among sexual partners of people living with HIV (PLWH). APS can be resource intensive as it requires community tracing to locate each partner named and offer them testing. There is limited evidence for the effectiveness of offering HIV self-testing (HIVST) as an option for partner testing within APS. METHODS: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial comparing provider-delivered HIV testing (Standard APS) versus offering partners the option of provider-delivered testing or HIVST (APS+HIVST) at 24 health facilities in Western Kenya. Facilities were randomized 1:1 and we conducted intent-to-treat analyses using Poisson generalized linear mixed models to estimate intervention impact on HIV testing, new HIV diagnoses, and linkage to care. All models accounted for clustering at the clinic level and new diagnoses and linkage models were adjusted for individual-level age, sex, and income a priori. RESULTS: From March to December 2021, 755 index clients received APS and named 5054 unique partners. Among these, 1408 partners reporting a prior HIV diagnosis were not eligible for HIV testing and were excluded from analyses. Of the remaining 3646 partners, 96.9% were successfully contacted for APS and tested for HIV: 2111 (97.9%) of 2157 in the APS+HIVST arm and 1422 (95.5%) of 1489 in the Standard APS arm. In the APS+HIVST arm, 84.6% (1785/2111) tested via HIVST and 15.4% (326/2111) received provider-delivered testing. Overall, 16.7% of the 3533 who tested were newly diagnosed with HIV (APS+HIVST = 357/2111 [16.9%]; Standard APS = 232/1422 [16.3%]). Of the 589 partners who were newly diagnosed, 90.7% were linked to care (APS+HIVST = 309/357 [86.6%]; Standard APS = 225/232 [97.0%]). There were no significant differences between the two arms in HIV testing (relative risk [RR]: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.96-1.10), new HIV diagnoses (adjusted RR [aRR]: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.76-1.39) or linkage to care (aRR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.74-1.06). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences between APS+HIVST and Standard APS, demonstrating that integrating HIVST into APS continues to be an effective strategy for identifying PLWH by successfully reaching and HIV testing >95% of elicited partners, newly diagnosing with HIV one in six of those tested, >90% of whom were linked to care. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT04774835.

Effectiveness of Using Additional HIV Self-Test Kits as an Incentive to Increase HIV Testing Within Assisted Partner Services.

BACKGROUND: Incentives have shown mixed results in increasing HIV testing rates in low-resource settings. We investigated the effectiveness of offering additional self-tests (HIVSTs) as an incentive to increase testing among partners receiving assisted partner services (APS). SETTING: Western Kenya. METHODS: We conducted a single-crossover study nested within a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Twenty-four facilities were randomized 1:1 to (1) control: provider-delivered testing or (2) intervention: offered 1 HIVST or provider-delivered testing for 6 months (pre-implementation), then switched to offering 2 HIVSTs for 6 months (post-implementation). A difference-in-differences approach using generalized linear mixed models, accounting for facility clustering and adjusting for age, sex, and income, was used to estimate the effect of the incentive on HIV testing and first-time testing among partners in APS. RESULTS: March 2021-June 2022, 1127 index clients received APS and named 8155 partners, among whom 2333 reported a prior HIV diagnosis and were excluded from analyses, resulting in 5822 remaining partners: 3646 (62.6%) and 2176 (37.4%) in the pre-implementation and post-implementation periods, respectively. Overall, 944/2176 partners (43%) were offered a second HIVST during post-preimplementation, of whom 34.3% picked up 2 kits, of whom 71.7% reported that the second kit encouraged HIV testing. Comparing partners offered 1 vs. two HIVSTs showed no difference in HIV testing (relative risk: 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 0.951 to 1.07) or HIV testing for the first time (relative risk: 1.23, 95% confidence interval: 0.671 to 2.24). CONCLUSIONS: Offering a second HIVST as an incentive within APS did not significantly impact HIV testing or first-time testing, although those opting for 2 kits reported it incentivized them to test.

Caretakers' perception towards using zinc to treat childhood diarrhoea in rural western Kenya.

Zinc treatment for diarrhoea can shorten the course and prevent future episodes among children worldwide. However, knowledge and acceptability of zinc among African mothers is unknown. We identified children aged 3 to 59 months, who had diarrhoea within the last three months and participated in a home-based zinc treatment study in rural Kenya. Caretakers of these children were enrolled in two groups; zinc-users and non-users. A structured questionnaire was administered to all caretakers, inquiring about knowledge and appropriate use of zinc. Questions on how much the caretakers were willing to pay for zinc were asked. Proportions were compared using Mantel-Haenszel test, and medians were compared using Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Among 109 enrolled caretakers, 73 (67%) used zinc, and 36 (33%) did not. Sixty-four (88%) caretakers in zinc-user group reported satisfaction with zinc treatment. Caretakers in the zinc-user group more often correctly identified appropriate zinc treatment (98%-100%) than did those in the non-user group (64-72%, p<0.001). Caretakers in the zinc-user group answered more questions about zinc correctly or favourably (median 10 of 11) compared to those in the non-user group (median 6.3 of 11, p<0.001). Caretakers in the zinc-user group were willing to pay more for a course of zinc in the future than those in the non-user group (median US$ 0.26, p<0.001). Caretakers of children given zinc recently had favourable impressions on the therapy and were willing to pay for it in the future. Active promotion of zinc treatment in clinics and communities in Africa could lead to greater knowledge, acceptance, and demand for zinc.

Descriptive study: Feasibility of integrating hypertension screening into HIV assisted partner notification services model in Kenya.

Prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are high among men while screening rates are low. Assisted partner notification service is a strategy recommended by the World Health Organization that aims to increase HIV testing and treatment uptake and may present an opportunity to offer integrated HIV/HTN screening and treatment services. In this prospective cohort study, we assessed the feasibility of integrating HTN screening for male sexual partners of females newly tested HIV-positive in 10 health facilities in Kenya. Participants were notified of the exposure and offered HIV testing and HTN screening; if they accepted and tested positive for either HTN, HIV, or both, they were referred for care. HTN was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90, or the use of antihypertensive medication. Among 1313 male partners traced, 99% accepted HIV testing and HTN screening. Overall, 4% were found to have HTN, 29% were in the pre-HTN stage, and 9% were HIV-positive. Only 75% had previously been screened for HTN compared to 95% who had previously tested for HIV. A majority preferred non-facility-based screening. The participants who refused HTN screening noted time constraints as a significant hindrance. HIV and HTN screening uptake was high in this hard-to-reach population of men aged 25 to 50. Although HTN rates were low, an integrated approach provided an opportunity to detect those with pre-HTN and intervene early. Strategic integration of HTN services within assisted partners services may promote and normalize testing by offering inclusive and accessible services to men.

Development and delivery of a higher diploma in emergency medicine and critical care for clinical officers in Kenya.

The provision of emergency medicine and critical care in a cost-efficient manner has the potential to address many preventable deaths in low- and middle-income countries. Here, utilising Kern's framework for curriculum development, we describe the origins, development and implementation of the Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Clinical Officer training program; Kenya's first training programme for clinical officers in emergency medicine and critical care. Graduates are scattered across the country in diverse settings, ranging from national referral hospitals in the capital, Nairobi, to rural hospitals in northern Kenya. In these locations, they provide clinical care, leadership, and teaching. Similar programmes could be replicated in other locations to help plug the gap in critical care provision in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Attitudes, beliefs, and practices toward end-of-life care among physicians in sub-Saharan Africa.

Introduction: as the opportunity to receive life-sustaining treatments expands in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), so do potential ethical dilemmas. Little is known regarding the attitudes, beliefs, and practices of physicians in SSA regarding end-of-life care ethics. Methods: we used validated survey items addressing physician end-of-life care views and added SSA-context specific items. We identified a convenience sample using the authors' existing African professional contacts and snowball recruitment. Participants were invited via email to an anonymous online survey. Results: we contacted 78 physicians who practice critical care in Africa, and 68% (n=53) completed the survey. Of those, 66% were male, 55% were aged 36-45, 75% were Christian. They were from Kenya (30%), Zambia (28%), Rwanda (25%), Botswana (11%), and other countries (6%). Most (75%) agreed that competent patients can refuse even life-saving care. Only 32% agreed that their hospital had clear policies regarding withdrawing and withholding care, 11% agreed that their country had legal precedent for end-of-life care, and 43% believed that doctors could face legal or financial consequences for allowing patients to die by forgoing treatment. Pain control at the end of life, even if it may hasten death, was supported by 83%. However, 75% felt that clinicians undertreat pain due to fear of hastening death. Conclusion: participants strongly supported patient autonomy and end-of-life pain control but expressed concern that inadequate policy and legal frameworks exist to guide care and that pain is undertreated. Humane and actionable end-of-life care frameworks are needed to guide decisions in SSA.

Association of clinical prediction scores with hospital mortality in an adult medical and surgical intensive care unit in Kenya.

Importance: Mortality prediction among critically ill patients in resource limited settings is difficult. Identifying the best mortality prediction tool is important for counseling patients and families, benchmarking quality improvement efforts, and defining severity of illness for clinical research studies. Objective: Compare predictive capacity of the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), Universal Vital Assessment (UVA), Tropical Intensive Care Score (TropICS), Rwanda Mortality Probability Model (R-MPM), and quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) for hospital mortality among adults admitted to a medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in rural Kenya. We performed a pre-planned subgroup analysis among ICU patients with suspected infection. Design setting and participants: Prospective single-center cohort study at a tertiary care, academic hospital in Kenya. All adults 18 years and older admitted to the ICU January 2018-June 2019 were included. Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was association of clinical prediction tool score with hospital mortality, as defined by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Demographic, physiologic, laboratory, therapeutic, and mortality data were collected. 338 patients were included, none were excluded. Median age was 42 years (IQR 33-62) and 61% (n = 207) were male. Fifty-nine percent (n = 199) required mechanical ventilation and 35% (n = 118) received vasopressors upon ICU admission. Overall hospital mortality was 31% (n = 104). 323 patients had all component variables recorded for R-MPM, 261 for MEWS, and 253 for UVA. The AUROC was highest for MEWS (0.76), followed by R-MPM (0.75), qSOFA (0.70), and UVA (0.69) (p < 0.001). Predictive capacity was similar among patients with suspected infection. Conclusion and relevance: All tools had acceptable predictive capacity for hospital mortality, with variable observed availability of the component data. R-MPM and MEWS had high rates of variable availability as well as good AUROC, suggesting these tools may prove useful in low resource ICUs.