Using repeated home-based HIV testing services to reach and diagnose HIV infection among persons who have never tested for HIV, Chókwè health demographic surveillance system, Chókwè district, Mozambique, 2014-2017.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: HIV prevalence in Mozambique (12.6%) is one of the highest in the world, yet ~40% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) do not know their HIV status. Strategies to increase HIV testing uptake and diagnosis among PLHIV are urgently needed. Home-based HIV testing services (HBHTS) have been evaluated primarily as a 1-time campaign strategy. Little is known about the potential of repeating HBHTS to diagnose HIV infection among persons who have never been tested (NTs), nor about factors/reasons associated with never testing in a generalized epidemic setting. METHODS: During 2014-2017, counselors visited all households annually in the Chókwè Health and Demographic Surveillance System (CHDSS) and offered HBHTS. Cross-sectional surveys were administered to randomly selected 10% or 20% samples of CHDSS households with participants aged 15-59 years before HBHTS were conducted during the visit. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to assess the proportion of NTs, factors/reasons associated with never having been tested, HBHTS acceptance, and HIV-positive diagnosis among NTs. RESULTS: The proportion of NTs decreased from 25% (95% confidence interval [CI]23%-26%) during 2014 to 12% (95% CI11% -13%), 7% (95% CI6%-8%), and 7% (95% CI6%-8%) during 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. Adolescent boys and girls and adult men were more likely than adult women to be NTs. In each of the four years, the majority of NTs (87%-90%) accepted HBHTS. HIV-positive yield among NTs subsequently accepting HBHTS was highest (13%, 95% CI10%-15%) during 2014 and gradually reduced to 11% (95% CI8%-15%), 9% (95% CI6%-12%), and 2% (95% CI0%-4%) during 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated HBHTS was helpful in increasing HIV testing coverage and identifying PLHIV in Chókwè. In high HIV-prevalence settings with low testing coverage, repeated HBHTS can be considered to increase HIV testing uptake and diagnosis among NTs.