Feasibility of Home-Based HIV Counselling and Testing and Linking to HIV Services among Women Delivering at Home in Geita, Tanzania: A Household Longitudinal Survey

Citation

Adinan, Juma; Adamou, Bridgit; Amour, Caroline; Shayo, Aisa; Kidayi, Paulo Lino; & Msuya, Levina (2019). Feasibility of Home-Based HIV Counselling and Testing and Linking to HIV Services among Women Delivering at Home in Geita, Tanzania: A Household Longitudinal Survey. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 1758. PMCID: PMC6937982

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Substantial number of women who deliver at home (WDH) are not captured in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services. This delays HIV infection detection that negatively impacts endeavours to fight the HIV pandemic and the health of mothers and children. The study objective was to determine the feasibility of home-based HIV testing and linking to care for HIV services among WDH in Geita District Council, Tanzania.
METHODS: A longitudinal household survey was conducted. The study involved all mentally-able women who delivered within 2 years (WDTY) preceding the survey and their children under the age of two. The study was conducted in Geita District Council in Geita Region, Tanzania from June to July 2017. Geita is among the region with high HIV prevalence and proportion of women delivering at home.
RESULTS: Of the 993 women who participated in the study, 981 (98.8%) accepted household-based HIV counselling and testing (HBHCT) from the research team. HIV prevalence was 5.3% (52 women). HBHCT identified 26 (2.7%) new HIV infections; 23 (23.4%) were those tested negative at ANC and the remaining three (0.3%) were those who had no HIV test during the ANC visit. Among the 51 HIV+ women, 21 (40.4%) were enrolled in PMTCT services. Of the 32 HIV+ participants who delivered at home, eight (25.8%) were enrolled in the PMTCT compared to 100% (13/13) of the women who delivered at a health facility.
CONCLUSION: HBHCT uptake was high. HBHCT detected new HIV infection among WDH as well as seroconversion among women with previously negative HIV tests. The study findings emphasize the importance of extending re-testing to women who breastfeed. HBHCT is feasible and can be used to improve PMTCT services among WDH.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8111-4

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2019

Journal Title

BMC Public Health

Author(s)

Adinan, Juma
Adamou, Bridgit
Amour, Caroline
Shayo, Aisa
Kidayi, Paulo Lino
Msuya, Levina

Article Type

Regular

PMCID

PMC6937982

Continent/Country

Tanzania

State

Nonspecific

Sex/Gender

Women