Acceptance of Index Case HIV Testing and Its Associated Factors Among HIV/AIDS Clients on ART Follow-Up in West Ethiopia: A Multi-Centered Facility-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Index case HIV/AIDS testing (ICHT) is a good approach for addressing and improving the efficiency and yield of testing among high-risk populations. Partners and families of people living with HIV/AIDS are among the high-risk populations for contracting HIV/AIDS. However, there is limited study on index case HIV testing among HIV patients attending Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). Hence, this study was aimed at assessing the magnitude and factors associated with ICHT among HIV patients attending ART in Nekemte town public health facilities.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Nekemte town public health facilities from May 20 to July 21, 2020. A systematic random sampling method was used to select the study participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of acceptance of ICHT among HIV patients.

Results: The ICHT acceptance was 85.2% (95% CI=84.9-91.1%). Disclosure of their HIV status (AOR=9.74, 95% CI=4.11-23.06), having good knowledge of ICHT (AOR=4.70, 95% CI=1.92-11.61), believing HIV index case testing has benefits (AOR=3.43, 95% CI=1.27-9.29), and being on ART for more than 1 year (AOR=4.78, 95% CI=2.13-10.76) were significantly associated with index case HIV test acceptance.

Conclusion and recommendation: This study revealed a significant proportion of index case HIV testing acceptance. HIV status disclosure of index cases, knowledge of ICHT, the perceived benefit of ICHT, and long duration on ART were found to be significantly associated with acceptance of ICHT. Hence, it is essential to give attention to counseling on the importance of ICHT, enhance people living with HIV (PLWHIV) to have positive belief on the advantage of ICHT, strengthen disclosure counseling, and assist HIV status disclosure in health facilities.