Increasing Access to HIV Testing Through Direct-to-Consumer HIV Self-Test Distribution — United States, March 31, 2020–March 30, 2021

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Hecht, Jen ; Sanchez, Travis ; Sullivan, Patrick S. ; DiNenno, Elizabeth A. ; Cramer, Natalie ; Delaney, Kevin P.
• Description:
  During 2019, approximately 34,800 new HIV infections occurred in the United States (1), and it is estimated that approximately 80% of HIV Transmission occurs from persons who either do not know they have HIV infection or are not receiving regular care (2). Since 2006, CDC has recommended that persons who are disproportionately affected by HIV (including men who have sex with men [MSM]) should test for HIV at least annually (3,4). However, data from multiple sources indicate that these recommendations are not being fully implemented (5,6). TakeMeHome, a novel public-private partnership to deliver HIV self-tTesting kits to persons seeking HIV tTesting in the United States, was launched during March 2020 as home care options for tTesting became increasingly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiation of the program coincided with the national COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration, issuance of stay-at-home orders, and other restrictions that led to disruption of traditional HIV tTesting services. During March 31, 2020-March 30, 2021, 17 state and local health departments participating in the program allowed residents of their jurisdictions to order test kits. Marketing for TakeMeHome focused on reaching gay, bisexual, and MSM through messages and embedded links in gay dating applications. Most participants in the program reported that they had either never tested for HIV (36%) or that they had last tested >1 year before receiving their self-test kit (56%). After receiving the self-test kit, >10% of respondents reported accessing additional Prevention services. Health departments can increase options for HIV tTesting by distributing publicly funded self-test kits to persons without proximate access to clinic-based tTesting or who prefer to test at home. Increased and regular HIV tTesting among MSM will help meet annual tTesting goals.
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Direct-To-Consumer Screening And Testing Female Health Services Accessibility HIV Infections HIV Testing Humans Male Middle Aged Self-Testing Young Adult

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• Source:
  MMWR Morbidity Mortal Weekly Rep. 70(38):1322-1325
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• DOI:
  http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7038a2
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Pubmed ID:
  34555001
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC8459896
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Pages in Document:
  4 pdf pages
• Volume:
  70
• Issue:
  38
• Collection(s):
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c21670cceea1d488b13a791e9d0a54b9b4a73cf37e97b882fb864286b4516cf8887d38f685ba7a4fad2c844029c008bcc036707e58193c3377ab2b3ec80c5929
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/110534/cdc_110534_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 118.67 KB ]