This project (Co-PI: Bernard Njau, KCMC) explores factors influencing couples' willingness to undergo HIV counseling and testing and disclose their serostatus. This CFAR-funded study is conducted in two villages in rural Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. A pilot intervention to enhance uptake of HIV testing was developed and the feasibility of its implementation in rural Kilimanjaro was evaluated.

Qualitative data collection and analysis, intervention development, client enrollment, pilot testing, and quantitative baseline and follow-up data collection completed, one manuscript has been published from this study: Njau B, Watt MH, Ostermann J, Manongi R, Sikkema KJ. Perceived acceptability of home-based couples voluntary HIV counseling and testing in Northern Tanzania. AIDS Care. 2012;24(4):413-9.

The successful implementation and results of this study have contributed to the successful R21 and recent R01 application to use Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) to analyze HIV testing preferences in the study area, and to evaluate the uptake of preference-based HIV testing options in a randomized controlled trial.