Unawareness of HIV Infection Among Men Aged 15-59 Years in 13 Sub-Saharan African Countries: Findings From the Population-Based HIV Impact Assessments, 2015-2019.
Journal
Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)
ISSN: 1944-7884
Titre abrégé: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 100892005
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 08 2021
01 08 2021
Historique:
received:
25
03
2021
accepted:
07
04
2021
entrez:
24
6
2021
pubmed:
25
6
2021
medline:
6
11
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Identifying men living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is critical to end the epidemic. We describe the underlying factors of unawareness among men aged 15-59 years who ever tested for HIV in 13 SSA countries. Using pooled data from the nationally representative Population-based HIV Impact Assessments, we fit a log-binomial regression model to identify characteristics related to HIV positivity among HIV-positive unaware and HIV-negative men ever tested for HIV. A total of 114,776 men were interviewed and tested for HIV; 4.4% were HIV-positive. Of those, 33.7% were unaware of their HIV-positive status, (range: 20.2%-58.7%, in Rwanda and Cote d'Ivoire). Most unaware men reported they had ever received an HIV test (63.0%). Age, region, marital status, and education were significantly associated with HIV positivity. Men who had HIV-positive sexual partners (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]: 5.73; confidence interval [95% CI]: 4.13 to 7.95) or sexual partners with unknown HIV status (aPR: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.89 to 2.84) were more likely to be HIV-positive unaware, as were men who tested more than 12 months compared with HIV-negative men who tested within 12 months before the interview (aPR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.31 to 1.91). Tuberculosis diagnosis and not being circumcised were also associated with HIV positivity. Targeting subgroups of men at risk for infection who once tested negative could improve yield of testing programs. Interventions include improving partner testing, frequency of testing, outreach and educational strategies, and availability of HIV testing where men are accessing routine health services.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Identifying men living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is critical to end the epidemic. We describe the underlying factors of unawareness among men aged 15-59 years who ever tested for HIV in 13 SSA countries.
METHODS
Using pooled data from the nationally representative Population-based HIV Impact Assessments, we fit a log-binomial regression model to identify characteristics related to HIV positivity among HIV-positive unaware and HIV-negative men ever tested for HIV.
RESULTS
A total of 114,776 men were interviewed and tested for HIV; 4.4% were HIV-positive. Of those, 33.7% were unaware of their HIV-positive status, (range: 20.2%-58.7%, in Rwanda and Cote d'Ivoire). Most unaware men reported they had ever received an HIV test (63.0%). Age, region, marital status, and education were significantly associated with HIV positivity. Men who had HIV-positive sexual partners (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]: 5.73; confidence interval [95% CI]: 4.13 to 7.95) or sexual partners with unknown HIV status (aPR: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.89 to 2.84) were more likely to be HIV-positive unaware, as were men who tested more than 12 months compared with HIV-negative men who tested within 12 months before the interview (aPR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.31 to 1.91). Tuberculosis diagnosis and not being circumcised were also associated with HIV positivity.
CONCLUSION
Targeting subgroups of men at risk for infection who once tested negative could improve yield of testing programs. Interventions include improving partner testing, frequency of testing, outreach and educational strategies, and availability of HIV testing where men are accessing routine health services.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34166316
doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000002708
pii: 00126334-202108011-00012
pmc: PMC8711576
mid: NIHMS1751008
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
S97-S106Subventions
Organisme : Intramural CDC HHS
ID : CC999999
Pays : United States
Organisme : CGH CDC HHS
ID : U2G GH001226
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose.
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