Background
Low male testing and treatment rates increase HIV transmission to female partners and affect their partners, families, and communities. Men-centered approaches are needed to overcome barriers to the uptake of services along the HIV continuum of care for men. We present an integrated community-based approach to increase the uptake of HIV clinical services by men.
Description
Between October to January 2024, 37 focal persons selected from 37 PEPFAR supported sites in the NW were trained on men-friendly strategies including the provision of an integrated package of health services in the community. A community register was developed and the focal persons received training on how to use it. Video spots on Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U) message were produced in English/French and translated by local language experts into pidgin, Lamso, Kom and Mankon vernaculars. Male influencers were engaged and mentored to mobilize men in their social groups for the provision of these services. The package of services included, sensitization on U=U, condom distribution, HIV testing, screening for hypertension (HTN), diabetes (DM), TB, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and activities were implemented from February to September 2024.
Lessons learned
Out of 402 outreaches planned 353 were conducted. A total of 61 male influencers were engaged, mentored on the U=U message and used to mobilize men in different settings. A total of 30 men’s groups were reached. Video spots on U=U in pidgin and some local languages were also shared in 30 whatsapp groups. A total of 9320 men were reached with HIV testing services 3771 (40%) were tested with 27 positive cases identified and 26 (96%) enrolled on ART. See table 1 for screening outcomes of hypertension, diabetes, TB and STIs.
Conclusion
An integrated package of health services for men in the community is a feasible and effective approach to increase the uptake of HIV testing services among men.