Predictors of HIV Self-Testing among Health Workers at Nyeri Provincial Hospital in Kenya

ABSTRACT

Background: HIV self-testing is recognised as a possible option of expanding access to HIV testing and counselling (HTC). There is high demand for self testing among health workers. However; in many health facilities in Kenya; the rate of unregulated self-testing and factors influencing the practice remain unknown.Objectives: To determine the prevalence and factors influencing HIV self-testing among health workers Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: Nyeri Provincial Hospital; the largest public hospital in Central Kenya. Subjects: Four hundred and fourteen Health workers at Nyeri Provincial Hospital who included the following cadres Nurses; Doctors; Clinical officers; Laboratory Technicians; Community Health Workers and HTC counsellors.Results: The proportion of self-testers were 65.8% (N=348). The significant predictors of HIV self-testing were identified as age; difficulty of conducting HIV self-test; reliability of HIV self-test results and confidence in HIV positive self-test results. Self-testers (n=229) identified factors that influenced them to self-test as easy access to test kits; obligation to test themselves; saves time and fear of stigma. Non self-testers (n=119) identified inability to handle HIV positive results; idea of self-test scares me; fear of stigma and lack of access to test kits as factors inhibiting self-testing.Conclusions: Self-testing is highly practiced by health workers at Nyeri provincial hospital. HIV related stigma needs to be addressed. Increasing access to test kits may increase self-testing