Researchers say numerous studies do not support fears that users of HIV self-testing kits could misuse the tests or turn violent.
The biggest concern was that someone who tests positive might kill themselves or attack
their partners.
“Researchers have told individuals and couples there is treatment, hence, do not turn violent after testing,” JKUAT researcher Dr
Kenneth Ngure
said yesterday.
Also speaking in Nairobi yesterday, researcher Prof Kawango Agot said two studies in Kisumu show the kits are well accepted. She
is director of the Impact Research and Development Organisation in Kisumu.
A study on promoting partner and couples’ testing showed high acceptance of the kits launched in Kenya last year.
Kits allow users to test their HIV status at home by swabbing the mouth, without pricking the body for a blood sample.
The organisation gave kits to 280 women in Kisumu, including
sex workers, mothers in antenatal care and those in post partum care. They were asked to test with their partners.
Only four of 280 women reported violence from partners. Two reported casual physical violence. One woman experienced economic abuse when she tested positive and her husband kicked her out.
“The last was a sex worker. Five weeks later a client returned with goons and assaulted her,” Prof Agot said.
The studies aimed to see if providing HIV self-test kits to pregnant women to give their male partners was acceptable.
The two researchers spoke at a science cafe hosted by the Media for Environment Science Health and Agriculture Association.
JKUAT researcher Ngure said self-testing is well accepted by people taking pre-exposure prophylaxis. He led a separate study in Thika to gauge acceptance of self-testing among people on pre-exposure prophylaxis.
“Ninety-eight per cent accepted self-testing when offered kits. At least 96 per cent of kits given out were reported used,” Ngure said.