Development of a National Campaign Addressing South African Men's Fears About HIV Counseling and Testing and Antiretroviral Treatment

Orr, Neil; Hajiyiannis, Helen; Myers, Laura J.; Makhubele, Mzamani Benjamin; Matekane, Tselisehang; Delate, Richard; Mahlasela, Lusanda; Goldblatt, Brenda

doi:10.1097/qai.0000000000001204

Cited by 26 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…In the era of treatment as prevention, more efforts are needed to develop and implement strategies to increase linkage to care among men in sub-Saharan Africa such as the effort to develop a national campaign to address men’s fear about HIV testing and treatment in South Africa [ 54 ]. For self-testers in particular, home-based confirmatory HIV testing and treatment has been found to increase linkage to care compared to facility confirmatory HIV testing in Malawi [ 55 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mate Yako Afya Yako: Formative research to develop the Tanzania HIV self-testing education and promotion (Tanzania STEP) project for men

et al. 2018

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The purpose of this formative research, guided by the Integrated Behavioral Model, was to assess men’s attitudes and personal agency towards HIV self-testing (HIVST) and confirmatory HIV testing in order to inform the development of the Tanzania STEP (Self-Testing Education and Promotion) Project, a peer-based HIV self-testing intervention for young men in Tanzania. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 23 men in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania who socialize in networks locally referred to as “camps”. Men reported privacy, confidentiality, and saving time as the primary reasons for their self-testing interest. Most participants had high perceived control and self-efficacy to self-test and seek confirmatory HIV testing. Nevertheless, men reported concerns related to their ability to perform the test and the potential lack of post-test counseling. Specific recommendations for the intervention included providing HIVST education and pre-test counseling, and using mobile health (mHealth) strategies for participants to reach a healthcare professional for further assistance. The findings suggest that while HIVST is highly acceptable among men in Tanzania, future interventions will need to address the challenges that men may face with HIVST before promoting it as an alternative or supplement to facility-based HIV testing.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mate Yako Afya Yako: Formative research to develop the Tanzania HIV self-testing education and promotion (Tanzania STEP) project for men

et al. 2018

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“…The tendency for men in sub-Saharan Africa to delay HIV testing and initiating treatment until their health deteriorates has been well described ( Mburu et al, 2014 ; Nyamhanga, Muhondwa, & Shayo, 2013 ; Skovdal et al, 2011 ). The delay in testing and eventual HIV status disclosure is due to HIV stigma and the fear of a potential HIV diagnosis, which can negativelly affect masculine pride and reputation ( Iwelunmor, Sofolahan-Oladeinde, & Airhihenbuwa, 2015 ; Mburu et al, 2014 ; Orr et al, 2017 ; Siu et al, 2013 ; Skovdal et al, 2011 ). However, the finding that men are learning from the experiences of their HIV-positive friends who tested late to encourage their peers to test for HIV and access treatment is less discussed in the literature and warrants further research.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“He Told Me to Check My Health”: A Qualitative Exploration of Social Network Influence on Men’s HIV Testing Behavior and HIV Self-Testing Willingness in Tanzania

et al. 2018

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Men continue to test for HIV at a low rate in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent quantitative evidence from sub-Saharan Africa indicates that encouragement to test for HIV from men’s network members is associated with higher previous HIV testing and HIV self-testing (HIVST) willingness. Leveraging this positive network influence to promote HIVST among men is a promising strategy that could increase HIV testing. This study investigated the reasons and strategies men used to encourage their peers to test for HIV and the outcomes in order to inform the development of a social network-based HIVST intervention for men called STEP (Self-Testing Education and Promotion). Twenty-three men from networks locally referred to as “camps” were interviewed to explore reasons for encouraging HIV testing, strategies to encourage HIV testing, and outcomes of HIV testing encouragement. Reasons men reported for encouraging their peers to test for HIV included awareness of their peers’ risky sexual behavior, knowing an HIV-positive peer, and having HIV testing experience. Strategies for encouraging testing included engaging in formal and informal conversations and accompanying friends to the clinic. Encouragement outcomes included HIV testing for some men while others remained untested due to lack of privacy in the clinic and fear of HIV stigma. Willingness to self-test for HIV and an interest to educate peers about HIVST were other outcomes of HIV testing encouragement. These findings underscore the potential of leveraging men’s existing HIV testing encouragement strategies to promote HIVST among their peers.

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“…Messages about HIV testing and ART need to target men and address their specific needs and concerns in places where men feel comfortable [ 19 ]. Previous research has indicated men’s interest in receiving information in a male dominated environment, from male HCWs, in the privacy of their homes and through information directed at them (not via their partners) [ 17 , 18 , 38 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Echoes of old HIV paradigms: reassessing the problem of engaging men in HIV testing and treatment through women’s perspectives

Katirayi

Chadambuka²,

Muchedzi³

et al. 2017

Reprod Health

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BackgroundWith the introduction of 2016 World Health Organization guidelines recommending universal antiretroviral therapy (ART), there has been increased recognition of the lack of men engaging in HIV testing and treatment. Studies in sub-Saharan Africa indicate there have been challenges engaging men in HIV testing and HIV-positive men into treatment.MethodsThis qualitative study explored women’s perspective of their male partner’s attitudes towards HIV and ART and how it shapes woman’s experience with ART. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women on Option B+ and health care workers in Malawi and Zimbabwe. In Malawi, 19 in-depth interviews and 12 focus group discussions were conducted from September–December 2013. In Zimbabwe, 15 in-depth interviews and 21 focus-group discussions were conducted from July 2014–March 2014.ResultsThe findings highlighted that many men discourage their partners from initiating or adhering to ART. One of the main findings indicated that despite the many advancements in HIV care and ART regimens, there are still many lingering negative beliefs about HIV and ART from the earlier days of the epidemic. In addition to existing theories explaining men’s resistance to/absence in HIV testing and treatment as a threat to their masculinity or because of female-focused health facilities, this paper argues that men’s aversion to HIV may be a result of old beliefs about HIV and ART which have not been addressed.ConclusionsDue to lack of accurate and up to date information about HIV and ART, many men discourage their female partners from initiating and adhering to ART. The effect of lingering and outdated beliefs about HIV and ART needs to be addressed through strengthened communication about developments in HIV care and treatment. Universal ART offers a unique opportunity to curb the epidemic, but successful implementation of these new guidelines is dependent on ART initiation and adherence by both women and men. Strengthening men’s understanding about HIV and ART will greatly enhance women’s ability to initiate and adhere to ART and improve men’s health.

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Development of a National Campaign Addressing South African Men's Fears About HIV Counseling and Testing and Antiretroviral Treatment

Cited by 26 publications

References 11 publications

Mate Yako Afya Yako: Formative research to develop the Tanzania HIV self-testing education and promotion (Tanzania STEP) project for men

Mate Yako Afya Yako: Formative research to develop the Tanzania HIV self-testing education and promotion (Tanzania STEP) project for men

“He Told Me to Check My Health”: A Qualitative Exploration of Social Network Influence on Men’s HIV Testing Behavior and HIV Self-Testing Willingness in Tanzania

Echoes of old HIV paradigms: reassessing the problem of engaging men in HIV testing and treatment through women’s perspectives

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