Acceptability and outcomes of distributing HIV self-Tests for male partner testing in Kenyan maternal and child health and family planning clinics

Background:Providing HIV self-Tests to women for distribution to male partners may provide a unique opportunity to increase male partner and couples testing among women in HIV high-burden settings.Methods:Between November 2017 and June 2018, we offered self-Tests for at-home couples or partner HIV testing to HIV-uninfected women seeking routine maternal and child health and family planning services at eight facilities in Kisumu, Kenya. Women accepting self-Tests were offered at least two self-Tests (OraQuick) to take to their partner(s) with instructions on use. HIV self-Testing (HIVST) outcomes were evaluated using available programmatic data.Results:Overall, 3620 women were offered self-Tests for at-home male partner HIV testing. The median age was 24 years (interquartile range 21-28) and 81% were in monogamous marriages. Overall, 1422 (39%) women reported having a partner of unknown HIV status, of whom 755 (53%) accepted self-Tests. Among women with partners of unknown HIV status who declined self-Tests (n=667), 49% reported needing to consult their partner. Pregnant women were more likely to accept HIVST than nonpregnant women (prevalence ratio=1.2, 95% confidence interval 1.0-1.4, P=0.013). Self-Testing outcomes were ascertained for 389 (44%) women who accepted self-Tests. Among these women, 93% offered HIVSTs to their male partner; of these, 95% reported their male partners used the self-Test and 99% used a self-Test with their partner.Conclusion:Among women attending routine maternal and child health and family planning services who had male partners of unknown HIV status, over half accepted self-Tests for partner testing. Most women with outcomes ascertained reported that male partners accepted and used self-Tests and that couples testing occurred.