HIV Self-Testing Knowledge and Attitudes at Sports-based HIV Prevention Tournaments in Nairobi, Kenya

J HIV AIDS Soc Serv. 2019;18(2):180-196. doi: 10.1080/15381501.2019.1620663. Epub 2019 Jun 9.

Abstract

HIV remains a major health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, and innovations - such as HIV self-testing (HST) - that break down barriers to testing are required to move toward elimination. Four anonymous cross-sectional surveys were conducted assessing HST knowledge and attitudes among sports-based HIV prevention tournament attendees in Nairobi, Kenya. Results suggest HST may increase testing rates in this population. Participants expressed interest in using HST and were willing to use HST as a tool to motivate others. This poses a unique opportunity for a community intervention aimed to increase knowledge of HST, and to increase HIV testing rates using HST kits.

Keywords: HIV; HIV self-testing; community health outreach; sports-based HIV prevention; sub-Saharan Africa.