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Promoting self-testing for HIV in developing countries: potential benefits and pitfalls.

S. Kachroo

Published 2006 in Bulletin of the World Health Organization

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in developing countries is a growing problem. By 2003 an estimated 38 million people worldwide were infected with HIV with approximately 14 000 new infections occurring each day. Some 2.3 million children worldwide are infected with HIV and they account for 18% of all deaths related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). I should like to add to the discussion on preventive measures for reducing the prevalence and incidence of HIV by weighing the potential benefits of promoting self-testing for HIV in developing countries and the concerns that need to be raised. Research reveals two common reasons why people do not attend HIV counseling: limited HIV testing services and social stigma and discrimination associated with HIV infection. Both these factors play a prominent role in the lack of HIV awareness among people in developing countries and may lead to errors in HIV reporting. People living in remote areas remain unscreened if local testing services are not available because they cannot afford the time involved to go to far-off facilities and the consequent loss of pay. Other concerns such as lack of privacy overworked clinics and physicians reluctance to test are cofactors in low screening rates. Self-testing will help overcome these objections and is a convenient option compared with the conventional methods of testing. (excerpt)

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