HIV self-testing (HIVST)
EVENTS
In order to further identify persons, particularly men, in the community who are less likely to participate in community-based HTC, we will provide HIV testing kits for self-administered testing and clear guidance for follow-up of persons electing to use the test kits. Persons who have a positive test using the kits will be invited to participate in SMART ART, receive confirmatory testing, and enroll in SMART ART if confirmed to be living with HIV. Kits for self-administered HIV testing (BioSure HIV Self Test, OraQuick, or other approved HIV Self Tests) will be distributed at the following venues: (1) HIV testing at the mobile van, which is often oversubscribed with some people having to wait or leave without a test, (2) providing HIV self-test kits to men and women in the SMART ART study to facilitate partner testing, and (3) HIV testing at outreach venues to reach men (men’s health events including multi-disease screening; peer ambassadors; work place testing; churches; music venues; and soccer games). Participants using self-test kits will watch a demonstration of the self-test kit, have the option of using a chatbot to help with self-testing, and receive information about the test kit, the need for confirmatory testing, and options for clinic-based services or SMART ART study enrollment to provide ART for persons testing positive. Persons electing to participate in self-testing will be encouraged to contact the study team for further information about linking to HIV treatment or prevention, including information about enrolling in the SMART ART study. Results of HIV self-testing will be confirmed with provider-conducted testing to determine eligibility in the SMART ART study.