Workplace HIV Counseling and Testing in Zimbabwe
Author Information
Author(s): Corbett Elizabeth L, Dauya Ethel, Matambo Ronnie, Cheung Yin Bun, Makamure Beauty, Bassett Mary T, Chandiwana Steven, Munyati Shungu, Mason Peter R, Butterworth Anthony E, Godfrey-Faussett Peter, Hayes Richard J
Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
Can providing HIV counseling and testing at the workplace improve uptake compared to off-site testing?
Conclusion
On-site HIV counseling and testing significantly increased the number of employees who accepted testing compared to off-site voucher testing.
Supporting Evidence
- On-site rapid testing led to a 51.1% uptake of VCT.
- Off-site voucher testing resulted in only a 19.2% uptake.
- The risk ratio for on-site VCT compared to voucher uptake was 2.8.
- Only 4.3% of employees who took vouchers reported attending off-site testing.
Takeaway
Offering HIV tests at work makes it much easier for people to get tested, which is really important for stopping the spread of HIV.
Methodology
The study was a cluster-randomised trial comparing on-site rapid HIV testing with off-site voucher testing in businesses in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Potential Biases
Selection bias may exist as businesses were identified through an HIV prevention project, potentially favoring those more receptive to HIV issues.
Limitations
The study combined VCT with basic HIV care, which may affect the generalizability of the results to settings without linked care.
Participant Demographics
Participants included employees from various businesses in Harare, with a significant portion being manual workers and younger individuals.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.8 to 3.8
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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