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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Factors shaping initial decision-making to self-test amongst cohabiting couples in urban Blantyre, Malawi
AIDS and Behavior, Volume 18, No. SUPPL. 4, Year 2014
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Description
In sub-Saharan Africa, most new HIV infections occur in stable relationships, making couples testing an important intervention for HIV prevention. We explored factors shaping the decision-making of cohabiting couples who opted to self-test in Blantyre, Malawi. Thirty-four self-tested participants (17 couples) were interviewed. Motivators for HIV self-testing (HIVST) emerged at three main levels. Individual motivations included perceived benefits of access to treatment, and self-checking of serostatus in the hope of having been cured by prolonged treatment or faith-healing. HIVST was considered convenient, confidential, reassuring and an enabling new way to test with one's partner. Partnership motivations included both positive (mutual encouragement) and negative (suspected infidelity) aspects. For women, long-term health and togetherness were important goals that reinforced motivations for couples testing, whereas men often needed persuasion despite finding HIVST more flexible and less onerous than facility-based testing. Internal conflict prompted some partners to use HIVST as a way of disclosing their previously concealed HIV positive serostatus. Thus, the implementation of community-based HIVST should acknowledge and appropriately respond to decision-making processes within couples, which are shaped by gender roles and relationship dynamics. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kumwenda, Moses Kelly
Unknown Affiliation
Munthali, Alister C.
Unknown Affiliation
Phiri, Mackwellings Maganizo
Unknown Affiliation
Mwale, Daniel
Unknown Affiliation
Gutteberg, Tore Jarl
Unknown Affiliation
MacPherson, Eleanor Elizabeth
Unknown Affiliation
Theobald, Sally Jane
Unknown Affiliation
Corbett, Elizabeth L.
Unknown Affiliation
Desmond, Nicola Ann
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 76
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s10461-014-0817-9
ISSN:
10907165
e-ISSN:
15733254
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Study Locations
Malawi
Participants Gender
Male
Female