Male Partner Engagement in HIV Testing Using Partner-notification Slip Plus Oral HIV Self-testing Kit

Assessing Male Partner Engagement in HIV Testing Using Partner-notification Slip Plus Oral HIV Self-testing Kit Among Male Partners of HIV-negative Pregnant Women.

HIV testing uptake among male partners of pregnant women remains low. But the optimal way to engage the male partners is unknown. The antenatal setting, with nearly universal uptake of HIV testing for women, can serve as a way of reaching male partners. HIV self-testing (HIVST) is one approach to HIV testing that can be conducted out of health facility. HIVST is a rapid antibody test which can be performed by non-medical people and allows people to collect their own specimen, perform the test, and interpret the results in the privacy of their home or other preferred location. In this trial HIV-negative pregnant women who were attending antenatal care at Bwaila Hospital in Malawi will be randomized 1:1 to receive partner notification inviting their partners for clinic-based HIV testing (standard of care) or partner notification + HIV Self-test kit for partner testing at home (intervention).

Inclusion Criteria:

• HIV-negative pregnant woman
• Must be available and willing to be contacted by phone within the next 30 days
• Must be part of a heterosexual relationship for >3 months
• Must expects their male sexual partner to be able to come to clinic in the next 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

• unable to provide informed consent