journalArticle
Inghels
Maxime
Kouassi
Arsène Kra
Niangoran
Serge
Bekelynck
Anne
Carillon
Séverine
Sika
Lazare
Danel
Christine
Kone
Mariatou
Desgrées du Loû
Annabel
Larmarange
Joseph
ANRS 12323 DOD-CI Study Group
Cascade of Provider-Initiated Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing and Counselling at Specific Life Events (Pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Marriage) in Côte d'Ivoire
BACKGROUND: Despite the implementation of Provider Initiated Testing and Counselling (PITC) in 2009, PITC coverage remains low in Cote d'Ivoire. The purpose of this study is to determine whether an human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test was offered and performed at specific life events where PITC is recommended by national guidelines.
METHODS: In 2017, a cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted among a representative sample of 3,867 adults from the general population in Côte d'Ivoire. The occurrences of the following events over the past 5 years were documented: pregnancy (event A) or partner's pregnancy (event B) of the last child, sexually transmitted infection (event C) and marriage (event D). For each of these events, participants were asked (i) if they consulted a health care professional, (ii) if they were offered an HIV test during that consultation and (iii) if they accepted it.
RESULTS: Consulting a health care provider was reported by 94.9%, 58.3%, 70.3% and 19.1% of those who reported events A, B, C and D respectively. In case of medical consultations following events A, B, C and D, respectively 70.1%, 33.1%, 28.1%, and 78.8% of individuals were offered an HIV test. The testing acceptance was high regardless of the event. Overall, testing coverage was 63.7%, 16.9%, 13.4% and 14.5% for events A, B, C and D respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Increasing HIV testing coverage in Côte d'Ivoire requires (i) facilitating attendance to health services in case of sexually transmitted infections, marriage and pregnancy-for men-and (ii) strengthening routine testing offer on these occasions.
54-61
2020-01
eng
PubMed
All rights reserved
PMID: 31856074
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
47
1
Sex Transm Dis
DOI 10.1097/olq.0000000000001084
ISSN 1537-4521