HIV Self-Testing: Increasing access by optimizing quality, choice, and convenience
HIV self-testing (HIVST) gives people—often first-time or infrequent HIV testers from underserved populations—a tool to know their HIV status. HIVST helps users overcome perceived and real barriers to provider-based HIV testing, including stigma and discrimination, especially in areas where the HIV epidemic is concentrated among key populations, young people, and men. HIVST provides a quick and confidential testing option and reflects PATH’s efforts to promote increased access to health care tools as part of self-care. Introduction and scale-up of innovative HIVST programs like those supported by PATH have accelerated new HIV case detection and linkages to antiretroviral therapy as well as increased uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis and voluntary medical male circumcision. This brief spotlights PATH’s experience and capabilities related to HIVST across the value chain, from initial design of HIVST products to the optimization and scale of HIVST delivery models
Publication date: July 2021