The Status of HIV Testing and Counseling in Kenya: Results From a Nationally Representative Population-Based Survey

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
• Personal Author:
  Ng’ang’a, Anne ; Waruiru, Wanjiru ; Ngare, Carol ; Ssempijja, Victor ; Gachuki, Thomas ; Njoroge, Inviolata ; Oluoch, Patricia ; Kimanga, Davies O. ; Maina, William K. ; Mpazanje, Rex ; Kim, Andrea A.
  More +
• Description:
  Background ; HIV testing and counseling (HTC) is essential for successful HIV prevention and treatment programs. The national target for HTC is 80% of the adult population in Kenya. Population-based data to measure progress towards this HTC target are needed to assess the country’s changing needs for HIV prevention and treatment. ; Methods ; In 2012–2013, we conducted a national HIV survey among Kenyans aged 18 months to 64 years. Respondents aged 15–64 years were administered a questionnaire that collected information on demographics, HIV testing behavior, and self-reported HIV status. Blood samples were collected for HIV testing in a central laboratory. Participants were offered home-based testing and counseling to learn their HIV status in the home and point-of-care CD4 testing if they tested HIV-positive. ; Results ; Of 13,720 adults who were interviewed, 71.6% 95% confidence interval (CI): 70.2 to 73.1 had been tested for HIV. Among those, 56.1% (95% CI: 52.8 to 59.4) had been tested in the past year, 69.4% (95% CI: 68.0 to 70.8) had been tested more than once, and 37.2% (95% CI: 35.7 to 38.8) had been tested with a partner. Fifty-three percent (95% CI: 47.6 to 58.7) of HIV-infected persons were unaware of their infection. Overall 9874 (72.0%) of participants accepted home-based HIV testing and counseling; 4.1% (95% CI: 3.3 to 4.9) tested HIV-positive, and of those, 42.5% (95% CI 31.4 to 53.6) were in need of immediate treatment for their HIV infection but not receiving it. ; Conclusions ; HIV testing rates have nearly reached the national target for HTC in Kenya. However, knowledge of HIV status among HIV-infected persons remains low. HTC needs to be expanded to reach more men and couples, and strategies are needed to increase repeat testing for persons at risk for HIV infection.
• Keywords:
  • HIV testing and counseling
  • Kenya
  • home-based testing and counseling
  • PIMA CD4 Analyzer
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Counseling
  • Female
  More +
• Source:
  J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 66(Suppl 1):S27-S36
• Pubmed ID:
  24732818
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4786172
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  001/WHO_/World Health OrganizationInternational/ ; CC999999/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U19 GH000069/GH/CGH CDC HHSUnited States/
• Place as Subject:
  Kenya
• Volume:
  66
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/38411/cdc_38411_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 460.87 KB]
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:b623c42f0a9ef166d5cf47af004ee0e83745bf80abb6f014b3d2568c150da9e5