Acceptability and uptake of oral HIV self-testing among rural community members in Tanzania: a pilot study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Study participants involved. Footnote; LTF = Lost to follow-up.

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of study participants (N = 259).

Variable	Intervention (N = 132)	Control (N = 127)	Overall (N = 259)	p-value
Sex
Female	73 (55.3)	65 (51.2)	138 (53.3)	0.506
Age (years)
18–24	18 (13.6)	24 (18.9)	42 (16.2)	0.251
25–34	37 (28.0)	34 (26.8)	71 (27.4)	0.820
35–44	32 (24.2)	39 (30.7)	71 (27.4)	0.244
≥ 45	45 (34.2)	30 (23.6)	75 (29.0)	0.063
Marital Status
Married	96 (72.7)	81 (63.8)	177 (68.3)	0.122
Cohabited	36 (27.3)	46 (36.2)	82 (31.7)	0.122
Education
Primary and below	114 (86.4)	114 (89.8)	228 (88.0)	0.399
Secondary and above	18 (13.6)	13 (10.2)	31 (12.0)	0.399
Occupation
Employed	86 (65.2)	102 (80.3)	188 (72.6)	0.006
Non-Employed	46 (34.9)	25 (19.7)	71 (27.4)	0.006
Socioeconomic Status
Lowest	16 (12.1)	39 (30.7)	55 (21.2)	<0.001
Second	30 (22.7)	23 (18.1)	53 (20.5)	0.357
Middle	37 (28.0)	17 (13.4)	54 (20.9)	0.004
Fourth	18 (13.6)	30 (23.6)	48 (18.5)	0.039
Highest	31 (23.5)	18 (14.2)	49 (18.9)	0.056

Table 2. HIV testing experience and history among study participants at baseline (N = 259).

Variable	Intervention (N = 132)	Control (N = 127)	Overall (N = 259)	p-value
Would like to test for HIV status	132 (100)	127 (100)	259 (100)	NA
Know of a place(s) where people can get tested for HIV	127 (96.2)	126 (99.2)	253 (97.7)	0.109
Ever been tested for HIV	111 (84.1)	92 (72.4)	203 (78.4)	0.023
In case you are HIV positive, yes, I would notify my spouse or partner	125 (94.7)	122 (96.1)	247 (95.4)	0.601
Agreed on – It takes a long time to get tested for HIV at a clinic	39 (29.6)	19 (15.0)	58 (22.4)	0.005

Table 3. Acceptability of HIV testing between intervention and control arm after one-month follow-up.

All	Since your last interview, have you tested for HIV?
	Yes	No	Total	RR (95%: CI)
Intervention n (%)	124 (97.6)	3 (2.4)	127	3.0 (2.3–3.9)
Control n (%)	38 (32.2)	80 (67.8)	118	p-value < 0.001
Total n (%)	162 (66.1)		245
Men
Intervention n (%)	57 (98.3)	1 (1.7)	58	3.2 (2.2–4.9)
Control n (%)	16 (30.2)	37 (69.8)	53	p-value < 0.001
Total	73 (65.8)		111
Women
Intervention n (%)	67 (97.6)	2 (2.4)	69	2.9 (2.0–4.0)
Control n (%)	22 (33.8)	43 (66.2)	45	p-value < 0.001
Total n (%)	89 (78.1)		114

Figure 2. Uptake of the HIV oral self-testing kit in the intervention arm (N = 127). Footnote; -ve = negative, +ve = positive, OST = oral self-testing.

Table 4. Experience of the HIV oral self-testing kit in the intervention arm (N = 127).

Variable	n (%)
One who conducted the oral HIV self-test
Self	121 (95.3)
Village Health Worker	5 (3.9)
Spouse/partner	1 (0.8)
Difficult to understand the instructions for using the kit
Somewhat difficult	121 (95.3)
Not difficult	6 (4.7)