Assessing the Potential for Community Level HIV Self-Testing in Tanzania

In Tanzania, nearly 50 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS ages 15-64 are still undiagnosed and currently unaware of their status, 47 percent are on antiretroviral therapy, and roughly 42 percent are virally suppressed. Options for HIV self-testing are critical to helping the government of Tanzania and implementing partners achieve these goals. As HIV self-testing is an emerging option in Tanzania, stakeholders across the health system are considering how and where to introduce HIV self-testing. There is need for additional information to help guide the appropriate introduction of HIV self-testing as part of a differentiated approach to HIV testing services. To address this need, SHOPS Plus carried out a technical assessment to explore the policy, commercial, and health system-related issues that support or detract from the feasibility of using Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets  or other community-level private sector outlets as a potential venue for HIV self-testing retail and distribution.