Increasing HIV testing among male partners
Orne-Gliemann, J.; Balestre, E.; Tchendjou, P.; Miric, M.; Darak, S.; Butsashvili, M.; Perez-Then, E.; Eboko, F.; Plazy, M.; Kulkarni, S.; Desgrées du Loû, A.; Dabis, F.ço.; Dabis, F.ço.; Tchendjou, P.; Orne-Gliemann, J.; Butsashvili, M.; Darak, S.; Miric, M.; Perez-Then, E.; Tchendjou, P.; Balestre, E.; Malateste, K.; Plazy, M.él.; Amassana, D.; Etounou, T.; Gadgil, M.; Kajaia, M.; Kulkarni, M.; Martinez, M.; Essounga, A.N.; Nunez, L.; Santos, L.; Topuridze, M.; Desgrées du Loû, A.; Ebok
Aids 27(7): 1167-1177
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1473-5571 PMID: 23343912 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e32835f1d8cDocument Number: 577312
Couple-oriented posttest HIV counselling (COC) provides pregnant women with tools and strategies to invite her partner to HIV counselling and testing. We conducted a randomized trial of the efficacy of COC on partner HIV testing in low/medium HIV prevalence settings (Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Georgia, India). Pregnant women were randomized to receive standard posttest HIV counselling or COC and followed until 6 months postpartum. Partner HIV testing events were notified by site laboratories, self-reported by women or both combined. Impact of COC on partner HIV testing was measured in intention-to-treat analysis. Socio-behavioural factors associated with partner HIV testing were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Among 1943 pregnant women enrolled, partner HIV testing rates (combined indicator) were 24.7% among women from COC group versus 14.3% in standard posttest HIV counselling group in Cameroon [odds ratio (OR) = 2.0 95% CI (1.2-3.1)], 23.1 versus 20.3% in Dominican Republic [OR = 1.2 (0.8-1.8)], 26.8 versus 1.2% in Georgia [OR = 29.6 (9.1-95.6)] and 35.4 versus 26.6% in India [OR = 1.5 (1.0-2.2)]. Women having received COC did not report more conjugal violence or union break-ups than in the standard posttest HIV counselling group. The main factors associated with partner HIV testing were a history of HIV testing among men in Cameroon, Dominican Republic and Georgia and the existence of couple communication around HIV testing in Georgia and India. A simple prenatal intervention taking into account the couple relationship increases the uptake of HIV testing among men in different socio-cultural settings. COC could contribute to the efforts towards eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV.