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. 2024 Jul;36(sup1):201-210.
doi: 10.1080/09540121.2024.2307383. Epub 2024 Mar 19.

Social network strategy (SNS) for HIV testing: a new approach for identifying individuals with undiagnosed HIV infection in Tanzania

Oscar Ernest Rwabiyago  1 , Allen Katale  1 , Trista Bingham  2 , Jonathan M Grund  1 , Ona Machangu  3 , Amy Medley  2 , Zeye M Nkomela  3 , Alick Kayange  4 , Galal Naphtal King'ori  1 , James McOllogi Juma  3 , Abbas Ismail  1 , Upendo Kategile  5 , Eniko Akom  6   7 , Neema Tabian Mlole  8 , Nicolas Schaad  1 , Werner Maokola  3 , Nyagonde Nyagonde  1 , Daniel Magesa  1 , Jaiving C Kazitanga  1 , Haruka Maruyama  9 , Florence Temu  10 , Sajida Kimambo  11 , David Sando  12 , Redempta Mbatia  13 , Sally Talike Chalamila  14 , Bernard Ediedu Ogwang  15 , Marina Alois Njelekela  16 , Kokuhumbya Kazaura  1 , Vincent J Wong  17 , Ramadhani Gongo  1 , Prosper Faustine Njau  3 , Andrea Mbunda  1 , Joseph Nondi  4 , Moses Bateganya  5 , Jessica Greene  18 , Mark Breda  4 , George Mgomella  1 , Anath Rwebembera  3 , Mahesh Swaminathan  1
Affiliations

Social network strategy (SNS) for HIV testing: a new approach for identifying individuals with undiagnosed HIV infection in Tanzania

Oscar Ernest Rwabiyago et al. AIDS Care. 2024 Jul.

Abstract

Social network strategy (SNS) testing uses network connections to refer individuals at high risk to HIV testing services (HTS). In Tanzania, SNS testing is offered in communities and health facilities. In communities, SNS testing targets key and vulnerable populations (KVP), while in health facilities it complements index testing by reaching unelicited index contacts. Routine data were used to assess performance and trends over time in PEPFAR-supported sites between October 2021 and March 2023. Key indicators included SNS social contacts tested, and new HIV-positives individuals identified. Descriptive and statistical analysis were conducted. Univariable and multivariable analysis were applied, and variables with P-values <0.2 at univariable analysis were considered for multivariable analysis. Overall, 121,739 SNS contacts were tested, and 7731 (6.4%) previously undiagnosed individuals living with HIV were identified. Tested contacts and identified HIV-positives were mostly aged ≥15 years (>99.7%) and females (80.6% of tests, 79.4% of HIV-positives). Most SNS contacts were tested (78,363; 64.7%) and diagnosed (6376; 82.5%) in communities. SNS tests and HIV-positives grew 11.5 and 6.1-fold respectively, from October-December 2021 to January-March 2023, with majority of clients reached in communities vs. facilities (78,763 vs. 42,976). These results indicate that SNS testing is a promising HIV case-finding approach in Tanzania.

Keywords: HIV testing services; SDG3; Tanzania; social network strategy; sub-Saharan Africa.

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Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Quarterly trend of SNS tests disaggregated by community and facility, in PEPFAR-supported sites in Tanzania between October 2021 to March 2023.
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Quarterly trend of SNS testing HIV positives and percentage positivity yield, in PEPFAR-supported sites in Tanzania between October 2021 to March 2023
Figure 3:
Figure 3:
Quarterly trend of SNS testing HIV positives by community and facility settings, in PEPFAR-supported sites in Tanzania between October 2021 to March 2023
Figure 4:
Figure 4:
Quarterly trend of SNS positivity yield for community and facility settings, in PEPFAR-supported sites in Tanzania between October 2021 to March 2023
Figure 5:
Figure 5:
The quarterly trend of the number of community sites reported SNS tests against community sites which reported at least 1 index tests, in PEPFAR-supported sites in Tanzania between October 2021 to March 2023
Figure 6:
Figure 6:
Quarterly trend of the number of health facilities reported SNS tests against PEPFAR supported facilities and facilities reported at least 1 index tests, in PEPFAR-supported sites in Tanzania between October 2021 to March 2023
Figure 7:
Figure 7:
The quarterly trend of proportion of new positives identified from SNS testing modality to all positives, in PEPFAR-supported sites in Tanzania between October 2021 to March 2023
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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