A Cluster-Randomized Trial of Traditional Healer-Delivered Counseling and Rapid HIV Testing in Tanzania.

TitleA Cluster-Randomized Trial of Traditional Healer-Delivered Counseling and Rapid HIV Testing in Tanzania.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsMatungwa DJ, Kidola J, Pungu D, Ponticiello M, Latulipe R, Lee MHee, Peck R, Sundararajan R
JournalAIDS Behav
Volume26
Issue11
Pagination3700-3712
Date Published2022 Nov
ISSN1573-3254
KeywordsAdult, Counseling, HIV Infections, HIV Testing, Humans, Point-of-Care Testing, Tanzania
Abstract

Collaborations with traditional healers have been proposed to improve HIV testing uptake. We hypothesized that healer-delivered HIV testing would improve HIV testing uptake, compared with referral to clinic-based HIV testing. We conducted a cluster randomized trial to determine the effectiveness of traditional healers delivering counseling and HIV testing in Mwanza, Tanzania (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT#04071873). Intervention arm healers provided counseling and offered point-of-care HIV tests to adult clients of unknown HIV serostatus. Control arm healers provided referral for clinic-based testing. Primary outcome was receipt of an HIV test within 90 days of enrollment. Secondary outcomes were new HIV diagnosis and linkage to care. In the intervention, 100 clients (100%) received an HIV test, compared with 73 (73%) of control participants (p < 0.001). Two intervention arm participants (2%) had a new diagnosis compared with zero in the control arm (p = 0.50). Engaging traditional healers might provide a culturally concordant opportunity to improve HIV testing uptake.

DOI10.1007/s10461-022-03700-x
Alternate JournalAIDS Behav
PubMed ID35553286
PubMed Central ID6488759
Grant ListKellen Faculty Fellowship / / Weill Cornell Medical College /
K23MH111409 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01MH118107 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States