Home-based delivery of HIV self-tests by adolescent girls and young women to male sexual partners in Johannesburg, South Africa: benefits and concerns

ABSTRACT

There is limited information about the best strategy for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) to negotiate HIV testing with their male partners. HIV self-testing as a strategy has the potential to overcome barriers to traditional HIV testing among men. We conducted formative feasibility research on secondary distribution of HIV self-tests by HIV negative AGYW to their male partners in northern Johannesburg, South Africa. A total of 8 focus group discussions with AGYW and men and 20 key informant interviews with community stakeholders were conducted to determine the best approach to partner-initiated testing. This study suggested that AGYW-initiated secondary distribution of HIV self-testing to their male sexual partners is considered an acceptable strategy by AGYW, men, and the community at large. The benefits included empowerment of women, reduction in HIV-testing associated stigma, and increased privacy and confidentiality for the men who test. Major concerns were safety of the AGYW, safety of men testing positive at home, and the lack of pre- and post-test counseling. The outcomes of the formative research were used to refine strategies for a secondary distribution of HIV self-testing intervention.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV self-testing
• secondary distribution
• adolescent girls and young women (AGYW)
• acceptability
• men

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all of the young women and men engaging in this work as well as the Witkoppen team. We thank VooC media group for their work on the videos.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State as part of the DREAMS Innovation Challenge, managed by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI). The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State or JSI.