A new study tested two ways to help pregnant couples in Kenya learn their HIV status together. The study included 800 couples from 24 antenatal clinics in Migori and Kisumu counties. Some couples received five home visits from lay counsellors who taught health and relationship skills and offered couples HIV testing at home. Others received HIV self-test kits for women to use with their partners. A third group received standard care, which included routine perinatal services and offers of individual and couples testing at the clinic.
By 12 months after giving birth, couples who got home visits were more than four times as likely to have tested together compared to standard care. Couples who got self-test kits were more than three times as likely. Specifically, 56.2% of the home visit group and 50.0% of the self-test group had tested together, versus only 13.6% in the standard care group.
The study followed families until 18 months after birth and also looked at health outcomes for mothers and children. There were 37 adverse events, with two possibly related to study procedures. There were also 54 severe adverse events, all related to pregnancy outcomes and none linked to the study procedures.
This was a randomized controlled trial, which is a strong design. However, the results come from one region in Kenya, so they may not apply everywhere. The takeaway is that offering home visits or self-test kits can greatly increase couples HIV testing during pregnancy, which may help improve health for mothers and families.
