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In Kenya, persons insufficiently engaged in HIV Testing Services (HTS) are often treated in emergency departments (ED). There are limited data from healthcare workers on ED-HTS. A qualitative study was completed to understand challenges and facilitators for ED-HTS and HIV self-testing (HIVST). Data were collected via six focus groups of healthcare workers. Data were inductively analyzed and mapped to the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation Behavioral Model. Focus groups were completed with 49 healthcare workers: 18 nurses, 15 HIV counselors, 10 physicians and 6 administrators. HTS challenges included staff burdens, resources access, deficiencies in systems integration and illness severity. HTS facilitators included education of healthcare workers and patients, services coordination, and specific follow-up processes. HIVST challenges included accuracy concerns, follow-up barriers and psychosocial risks. HIVST facilitators were patient autonomy and confidentiality, resource utilization and ability to reach higher-risk persons. Mapping to the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation Behavioral Model interventions within the domains of knowledge, decision processes, environmental aspects, social influences and professional identities could support enhanced ED-HTS with integrated HIVST delivery. This study provided insights into challenges and facilitators on ED-HTS and identifies pragmatic approaches to improve healthcare workers' behaviors and abilities to provide services to persons already in contact with healthcare.

Despite having a higher risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, people who inject drugs (PWID) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have limited access to HCV treatment. There is scarce literature on treatment delivery modalities that overcome logistical and financial barriers. We utilized different service delivery modalities to provide direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) to PWIDs infected with HCV through methadone clinics and needle and syringe program (NSP) sites in Kenya. In collaboration with Kenya's National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), we enrolled individuals with active HCV infection confirmed by HCV RNA detection from methadone and NSP sites in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kilifi counties. Liver function and hepatitis B virus (HBV) status were assessed at baseline. Those eligible for treatment were offered ledipasvir-sofosbuvir treatment provided by NASCOP through directly observed therapy (DOT). Participants completed a follow-up visit 12 weeks after completing treatment to measure sustained viral response (SVR-12). Challenges faced while delivering HCV treatment at participating sites included the limited availability and reliability of laboratory assays, and financial constraints faced by PWIDs to attend daily DOT. Based on our experience, strategies to deliver HCV treatment for PWID in Kenya should consider improving the availability of laboratory tests and prioritizing treatment through methadone centers to achieve good outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Boke, Monroe-Wise, Umutesi, Mbogo, Sambai, Bukusi, Chohan, Scott, Gitau, Sinkele, Musyoki, Herbeck, Farquhar and Guthrie.)

In Kenya, overdose remains a major public health concern with approximately 40% of persons who inject drugs (PWID) reporting personal overdoses. PWID living with HIV (PWID-LH) are particularly vulnerable to experiencing fatal and non-fatal overdoses because of the surrounding physical, social, economic, and political environments, which are not fully understood in Kenya. Through qualitative inquiry, this study characterizes Kenya's overdose risk environment. Participants were purposively recruited from a larger cohort study from September to December 2018 using the following inclusion criteria: HIV-positive, age ≥18 years, injected drugs in the last year, and completed cohort study visits. Semi-structured interviews explored experiences of personal and observed overdoses, including injection settings, sequence of events (e.g., pre-, during, and post-overdose), safety strategies, and treatment. Interviews were transcribed, translated (Swahili to English), reviewed, and analyzed thematically, applying a risk environment framework. Nearly all participants described personal and/or observed overdose experiences (96%) and heroin was the most frequently reported substance (79%). Overdose precursors included increased consumption, polysubstance use, recent incarceration, and rushed injections. There were also indications of female-specific precursors, including violence and accessing prefilled syringes within occupational settings. Overdose safety strategies included avoiding injecting alone, injecting drugs incrementally, assessing drug quality, and avoiding polysubstance use. Basic first-aid techniques and naloxone use were common treatment strategies; however, naloxone awareness was low (25%). Barriers to treatment included social network abandonment, police discrimination, medical stigma, fatalism/religiosity, medical and transportation costs, and limited access to treatment services. In Kenya, the overdose risk environment highlights the need for comprehensive overdose strategies that address the physical, social, economic, and political environments. Morbidity and mortality from overdose among PWID-LH could be reduced through overdose prevention initiatives that support harm reduction education, naloxone awareness, and access, destigmatization of PWID, and reforming punitive policies that criminalize PWID-LH., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Maurano et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

We evaluated the prevalence and correlates of HIV viral nonsuppression and HIV drug resistance (HIV-DR) in a cohort of people who inject drugs living with HIV (PWID-LH) and their sexual and injecting partners living with HIV in Kenya. HIV-DR testing was performed on participants with viral nonsuppression. Of 859 PWID-LH and their partners, 623 (72.5%) were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) ≥4 months and 148/623 (23.8%) were not virally suppressed. Viral nonsuppression was more common among younger participants and those on ART for a shorter duration. Among 122/148 (82.4%) successfully sequenced samples, 55 (45.1%) had detectable major HIV-DR mutations, mainly to non-nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI and NRTI). High levels of HIV-DR among those with viral nonsuppression suggests need for viral load monitoring, adherence counseling, and timely switching to alternate ART regimens in this key population.

Background: People who inject drugs are at increased risk of both HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections but face barriers to testing and engagement in care. Assisted partner services are effective in locating people with HIV but are understudied among people who inject drugs. We assessed whether assisted partner services could be used to find, test for HIV and HCV infections, and link to care the partners of people who inject drugs in Kenya., Methods: In this prospective study at eight sites offering harm-reduction services in Kenya, we enrolled people aged 18 years or older who inject drugs and were living with HIV (index participants) between Feb 27, 2018, and Nov 1, 2021. Index participants provided information about their sexual and injecting partners (ie, anyone with whom they had had sexual intercourse or injected drugs in the previous 3 years), and then community-embedded peer educators located partners and referred them for enrolment in the study (partner participants). All participants underwent testing for HCV infection, and partner participants also underwent HIV testing. Index and partner participants with HIV but who were not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) were linked with treatment services, and those positive for HCV were linked to treatment with direct-acting antivirals. We calculated the number of index participants whom we needed to interview to identify partner participants with HIV and HCV infection., Findings: We enrolled 989 people living with HIV who inject drugs, who mentioned 4705 sexual or injecting partners. Of these 4705 partners, we enrolled 4597 participants, corresponding to 3323 unique individuals. 597 (18%) partner participants had HIV, of whom 506 (85%) already knew their status. 358 (71%) of those who knew they were HIV positive were virally suppressed. 393 (12%) partner participants were HCV antibody positive, 213 (54%) of whom had viraemia and 104 (26%) of whom knew their antibody status. 1·66 (95% CI 1·53-1·80) index participants had to be interviewed to identify a partner with HIV, and 4·24 (3·75-4·85) had to be interviewed to find a partner living with HIV who was unaware of their HIV status, not on ART, or not virally suppressed. To find a partner seropositive for HCV who did not know their antibody status, 3·47 (3·11-3·91) index participants needed to be interviewed. Among the 331 index and partner participants living with HIV who were not on ART at enrolment, 238 (72%) were taking ART at 6-month follow-up. No adverse events were attributed to study procedures., Interpretation: Use of assisted partner services among people with HIV who inject drugs was safe and identified partners with HIV and HCV infections. Assisted partner services was associated with increased uptake of ART for both index participants and partners., Funding: US National Institutes of Health., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests AM-W has served as a consultant for WHO and has received financial support from Gilead Sciences. BLG has received financial support from Gilead and has served as an expert witness for the Los Angeles Unified School District. JS has served as a consultant for Gilead, Premera Blue Cross, Guidepoint, and Novo Nordisk, and as an expert witness for the Washington State Medical Commission. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

We assessed the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among 870 people who inject drugs living with HIV in Kenya, with attention toward (1) sexual and injecting risk behaviors for HIV transmission and (2) HIV care engagement. We defined heavy alcohol use as > 14 drinks/week for men and > 7 drinks/week for women, moderate alcohol use as any lesser but non-zero amount, and any alcohol use as either moderate or heavy use. Approximately 39% of participants reported any alcohol use and 15% heavy use. In multivariate analysis, any alcohol use compared to no use was associated with needle sharing, > 3 new sex partners in the past 3 months, being unaware of HIV status, never enrolling in HIV care, and not being on ART (all p < 0.05). Heavy alcohol use as compared to no use was associated with needle sharing (aOR = 2.72; 95% CI 1.43, 5.13), injection equipment sharing (aOR = 1.80; 95% CI 1.00, 3.16), > 3 new sex partners in the past 3 months (aOR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.12, 3.49), and being unaware of HIV status (aOR = 2.77; 95% CI 1.46, 5.19). There was no association between any measure of alcohol use and unsuppressed viral load. Alcohol use among people who inject drugs living with HIV may carry elevated risk of HIV transmission mediated by sexual and injecting practices and is associated with lower engagement in multiple stages of the HIV care cascade., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) have a higher risk of developing hypertension compared to HIV uninfected individuals. HIV assisted partner services (aPS), where PLWH are assisted by a healthcare provider to disclose their status to sexual and / or drug injecting partner(s), offers an opportunity for integrated HIV and hypertension screening. We evaluated the feasibility of the aPS model in supporting integrated HIV and hypertension screening at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya., Methods: Between August 2019 and December 2020, we conducted a pre-post intervention study. We enrolled women receiving HIV testing services (HTS) with confirmed hypertension (female index clients) and traced their male relatives for HIV and hypertension screening and reviewed management at 3-months. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medication., Results: One hundred female index clients (median age: 55 years; interquartile range (IQR): 47-65) mentioned 165 male relatives (median: 49 years; IQR: 40-59) of whom 35% (n = 58/165) were enrolled. Of the male relatives, 29% had hypertension (n = 17/58), 34% had pre-hypertension (n = 20/58), and none were HIV-positive (n = 0/58). Among the female index clients, there was a statistically significant decline in SBP (pre: 156 mmHg, post: 133 mmHg, p-value: < 0.0001) and DBP (pre: 97 mmHg, post: 80 mmHg, p-value: < 0.0001), and increase in antihypertensive medication uptake (pre: 91%, n = 84/92; post: 98%, n = 90/92; X 2 : 4.3931, p-value: 0.036) relative to baseline. Among the male relatives, there was a statistically significant increase in antihypertensive medication uptake among those with hypertension (pre: 13%, n = 6/46; post: 17%, n = 8/46; X 2 : 32.7750, p-value: < 0.0001) relative to baseline., Conclusion: HIV aPS holds promise for integrated HIV and hypertension screening among at-risk clients and their families. Twenty-nine percent of the male relatives had hypertension, higher than the national prevalence (24%), while one-third had pre-hypertension. We observed relatively high participant retention, reductions in blood pressure, and increase in antihypertensive medication uptake among those with confirmed hypertension. Future research expanding the aPS model to other non-communicable diseases through larger studies with longer follow-ups is required to better assess causal relationships and optimize integrated service delivery., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: In Kenya, violence is common among people who inject drugs (PWID) living with HIV and their sexual and injecting partners and may lead to decreased uptake of HIV services, increased HIV risk behaviors, and increased HIV transmission. Violence is defined as any physical harm, threatened harm, or forced sexual acts inflicted on a person in the past year. Understanding the nature of violence and its correlates among PWID and their partners will inform population-specific public health interventions and policy recommendations., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study nested in a prospective cohort study conducted in eight public health centers, methadone clinics, and needle syringe programs in Nairobi, Kilifi, and Mombasa counties in Kenya. 3,302 sexual and/or injecting partners of PWID living with HIV were recruited through assisted partner services and participated in the study. Prevalence and correlates of violence were identified using the Wald test and negative binomial regression., Results: Out of 3302 study participants, 1439 (44%) had experienced violence within the past year. Physical violence was the most common form of violence experienced (35%), followed by being threatened (23%) or subjected to sexual violence (7%). In an adjusted analysis, female participants reported higher experiences of sexual violence (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62, 3.74; p < 0.001) compared to male participants. In adjusted analysis, coastal residents had a higher experience of overall violence (PR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.27, 1.72; p < 0.001) than those living in Nairobi. This regional effect was relatively stronger among the female respondents (p interaction  = 0.025). Participants' sex modified the association between region and experiencing violence after adjusting potential confounding factors., Conclusions: The study reveals the prevalence of violence among PWID and identifies high-risk sub-groups, including women, specifically for sexual violence, and coastal residents. Tailored interventions addressing their unique needs are essential. A holistic approach that combines violence prevention and response, comprehensive harm reduction, healthcare access, and community support is crucial to address the complex issue of drug use and HIV burden among PWID in Kenya for improved health outcomes., (© 2023. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Youth living with HIV (YLHIV) report that negative interactions with health care workers (HCWs) affects willingness to return to care. This stepped wedge randomized trial evaluated effectiveness of a standardized patient actor (SP) HCW training intervention on adolescent engagement in care in Kenya. HCWs caring for YLHIV at 24 clinics received training on adolescent care, values clarification, communication, and motivational interviewing, with 7 SP encounters followed by facilitated feedback of videotaped interactions. Facilities were randomized to timing of the intervention. The primary outcome was defined as return within 3 months after first visit (engagement) among YLHIV who were either newly enrolled or who returned to care after >3 months out of care. Visit data was abstracted from electronic medical records. Generalized linear mixed models adjusted for time, being newly enrolled, and clustering by facility. YLHIV were surveyed regarding satisfaction with care. Overall, 139 HCWs were trained, and medical records were abstracted for 4,595 YLHIV. Median YLHIV age was 21 (IQR 19-23); 82% were female, 77% were newly enrolled in care, and 75% returned within 3 months. Half (54%) of trained HCWs remained at their clinics 9 months post-training. YLHIV engagement improved over time (global Wald test, p = 0.10). In adjusted models, the intervention showed no significant effect on engagement [adjusted Prevalence Ratio (aPR) = 0.95, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.88-1.02]. Newly enrolled YLHIV had significantly higher engagement than those with prior lapses in care (aPR = 1.18, 95%CI: 1.05-1.33). Continuous satisfaction with care scores were significantly higher by wave 3 compared to baseline (coefficient = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.19-0.58). Despite provider skill improvement, there was no effect of SP training on YLHIV engagement in care. This may be due to temporal improvements or turnover of trained HCWs. Strategies to retain SP-training benefits need to address HCW turnover. YLHIV with prior gaps in care may need more intensive support. Registration CT #: NCT02928900. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02928900., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Kohler et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Community-based delivery of oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) may expand access to testing among adolescents and young adults (AYA). Eliciting youth perspectives can help to optimize these services. We conducted nine focus group discussions (FGDs) with HIV negative AYA aged 15-24 who had completed oral HIVST following community-based distribution through homes, pharmacies, and bars. FGDs were stratified by distribution point and age (15-17, 18-24). Participants valued HIVST because it promoted greater autonomy and convenience compared to traditional clinic-based testing. AYA noted how HIVST could encourage positive behavior change, including using condoms to remain HIV negative. Participants recommended that future testing strategies include individualized, ongoing support during and after testing. Support examples included access to trained peer educators, multiple community-based distribution points, and post-test support via phones and websites. Multiple distribution points and trained peer educators' involvement in all steps of distribution, testing, and follow-up can enhance future community-based HIVST programs.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa many people who inject drugs (PWID) are living with undiagnosed or untreated HIV and experience high levels of poverty and conditions that can contribute to worse outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Identifying the burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection in marginalized populations like PWID may contribute to controlling the pandemic., Methods: This is a nested cross-sectional study within an ongoing cohort study that recruits PWID living with HIV and their injecting and/or sexual partners at needle and syringe program sites and methadone clinics in Kenya. Blood samples were collected from consenting participants at enrollment to determine SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a Platellia BioRad SARS-CoV-2 total antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Baseline data were collected on HIV status, antiretroviral therapy and methadone adherence. We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with antibody positivity and descriptive statistics to report SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence., Results: One thousand participants were enrolled between April and July 2021, of whom 323 (32.3%) were women and 677 (67.7%) were men. Median age of participants was 36 years (interquartile range: 30, 42). SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity was found in 309 (30.9%) participants. Disruption in obtaining methadone service was reported by 106 (24.3%) of the participants. Men were significantly less likely than women to have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51, 0.95; p < 0.01) Participants who reported a sexual or injecting partner diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 were twofold more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies detected (aOR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.06, 4.58; p < 0.032). Living with HIV was not associated with presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies., Conclusion: The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 of 30.9% in this cohort suggests high transmission rates within this population. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was similar for people living with and without HIV. A large portion of this population was noted to have had disruption in access to harm reduction services., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: HIV and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are the two main causes of death in Kenya with hypertension as CVD's leading risk factor and HIV infection a risk factor for hypertension. We qualitatively evaluated the feasibility of integrated HIV and hypertension screening at Kenyatta National Hospital., Methods: We conducted two focus group discussions (FGDs) in November 2020 (female FGD: n=7; male FGD: n=8) to elicit facilitators, barriers and viability of integrated diagnosis and management of both conditions at HIV testing service (HTS) facilities. Participants were selected using convenience sampling and were not pair matched. All participants had received HTS. All female clients had confirmed hypertension, while male relatives had been contacted for HIV and hypertension screening through a modified assisted partner services model-where a trained healthcare provider supports notification. Transcripts were coded independently, and the codebook was developed and revised through consensus discussion. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis., Results: Main barriers to diagnosis and management included limited public awareness of hypertension risk factors and on improved treatment outcomes for those on lifelong HIV treatment, high cost of hypertension care despite free HIV care and healthcare system challenges especially medication stockouts. Strong support systems at family and healthcare levels facilitated care and treatment for both conditions. Participants recommended improved public awareness through individual-level communication and mass media campaigns, decentralised screening services for both HIV and hypertension, and either free or subsidised hypertension care services delivered alongside HIV treatment services. Most felt that an integrated HIV and hypertension service model was viable and would improve healthcare outcomes., Conclusion: Patient-centred care models combining HIV and hypertension services hold promise for integrated service delivery., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Background: In Kenya, harm reduction organizations have adopted evidence-based peer educator (PE) programs, where former people who inject drugs (PWID) serve as community health liaisons to engage PWID in HIV, HCV and harm reduction services. While PEs play an integral role in healthcare delivery, little data exists on their roles, risks and experiences working with PWID, which may be used to inform local harm reduction policy., Methods: PE's from two harm reduction sites in Nairobi were randomly and purposively selected to participate in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was conducted to characterize the expected versus actual roles that PEs employ while serving PWID, personal motivation and/or challenges and occupational health risks. Data was analyzed using Atlas.ti software., Results: Twenty PEs participated in the study. On average, PEs were 37 years of age, with 3 years of service. Female representation was 30%. Expected responsibilities included locating clients, establishing rapport, educating and escorting clients to addiction care facilities. Additional roles included attending to clients outside of work hours, escorting clients to medical appointments and facilitating patient-provider discussions. Occupational health risks included harassment by police and drug dealers, needle sticks, and close proximity to drug use environments that could prompt drug relapse. Despite these challenges and risks, PEs are motivated by their personal experiences of overcoming addiction with help from harm reduction programs., Conclusions/recommendations: PEs play a vital role in HIV, HCV and harm reduction service delivery in Kenya, often exceeding their job descriptions by offering additional support to PWID. Recommendations include (1) advocating for PEs to provide patient navigation services, (2) promoting the use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), (3) providing occupational mental health services to prevent drug relapse, and (4) collaborating with law enforcement to address harassment, with the ultimate goal of reducing HIV and HCV incidence among PWID., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2022 Masese et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are disproportionally affected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and many remain undiagnosed. HCV self-testing (HCVST) may be an effective approach to increase testing uptake, but has rarely been used among PWID. We assessed the usability and acceptability of HCVST among PWID in Kenya., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study nested within a cohort study between August and December 2020 on Kenya's North Coast region. Participants were handed a prototype oral fluid HCVST kit and asked to conduct the test relying on the instructions for use. Usability was assessed by documenting errors made and difficulties faced by participants. Acceptability was assessed using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire., Results: Among 150 participants, 19% were female and 65.3% had primary level education or lower. 71.3% made at least one error, 56.7% experienced some difficulty during at least one step, and the majority of participants (78%) required assistance during at least one step of the procedure. Most common errors occurred when placing the tube into the stand (18%), collecting the oral fluid sample (24%) and timing of reading results (53%). There was a strong association between presence of symptoms of opiate withdrawals and observed errors (94% vs 62%; p = 0.016) in a sub-group of 74 participants assessed. Inter-reader and inter-operator concordance were 97.7% (kappa: 0.92) and 99.2% (kappa: 0.95), respectively. Acceptability assessed by asking whether participants would choose to use HCVST prior to and after conducting HCVST was 98% and 95%, respectively., Conclusions: We found a high acceptability of oral fluid HCVST among PWID. User errors were common and were associated with the presence of withdrawal symptoms among users. Despite errors, most participants were able to obtain and interpret results correctly. These findings suggest that this group of users may benefit from greater messaging and education including options to receive direct assistance when self-testing for HCV., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) may expand access to testing among hard-to-reach reach adolescents and young adults (AYA). We evaluated community-based HIVST services for AYA in an urban settlement in Kenya. Peer-mobilizers recruited AYA ages 15-24 through homes, bars/clubs, and pharmacies. Participants were offered oral HIVST, optional assistance and post-test counseling. Outcomes were HIVST acceptance and completion (self-report and returned kits). Surveys were given at enrollment, post-testing, and 4 months. Log-binomial regression evaluated HIVST preferences by venue. Among 315 reached, 87% enrolled. HIVST acceptance was higher in bars/clubs (94%) than homes (86%) or pharmacies (75%). HIVST completion was 97%, with one confirmed positive result. Participants wanted future HIVST at multiple locations, include PrEP, and cost ≤ $5USD. Participants from bars/clubs and pharmacies were more likely to prefer unassisted testing and peer-distributers compared to participants from homes. This differentiated community-based HIVST strategy could facilitate engagement in HIV testing and prevention among AYA., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Kenya is estimated to be 18% compared to 4.5% in the general population. Studies from high-income countries have demonstrated that methadone use is associated with increased uptake of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and higher rates of viral suppression among PWID with HIV. However, it is unclear whether methadone use has the same effect among African PWID living with HIV., Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate associations between methadone program participation and ART uptake and viral suppression (HIV RNA viral load <1000 copies/ml) among PWID with HIV in Kenya. Participants were recruited from needle and syringe programs and methadone clinics, interviewed on site, and samples were obtained and assayed for HIV viral loads. Univariate and multiple logistic regression were used to determine associations., Results: Among 679 participants, median age was 37 years, 48% were female, and 24% were in a methadone program. We observed higher proportions of ART use (96% vs. 87%, p = 0.001) and HIV viral suppression (78% vs. 65%, p = 0.012) among PWID on methadone compared to those not on methadone treatment. PWID who were not participating in a methadone program were 3-fold more likely to be off ART and approximately twice as likely to be viremic compared to those in methadone programs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35-8.35 and aOR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.03-3.52, respectively)., Conclusions: In this study, Kenyan PWID living with HIV participating in a methadone treatment program were more likely to be on ART and to have achieved viral suppression. Scale-up of methadone programs may have a positive impact on HIV epidemic control for this key population., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Persons who inject drugs (PWID) have higher HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence than the general population in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The seroprevalences of HIV and HCV are also higher in coastal Kenya than in Nairobi. Understanding drivers of regional HIV and HCV variation among PWID in Kenya may inform population-specific prevention interventions., Methods: Using a cross-sectional study, we defined HIV and HCV seroprevalence among persons identified as sexual or injecting partners of HIV positive PWID in two regions of Kenya and used logistic regression to identify demographic and behavioral characteristics associated with higher seroprevalence., Results: Among 2386 partners, 469 (19.7%) tested HIV positive and 297(12.4%) tested HCV antibody positive. Partners on the Coast were more likely to live with HIV (seroprevalences: Coast = 23.8%, Nairobi = 17.1%; p < 0.001) and be HCV antibody positive (seroprevalences: Coast = 17.0%, Nairobi = 8.6%; p < 0.001). After adjusting for sex, age, and years injecting and accounting for clustering by site, the higher prevalence of both diseases in the Coast remained significant for HIV (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.13-2.51) but not for HCV (OR 1.72, 95% CI 0.84-3.74). Compared to those recruited in Nairobi, partners on the Coast were older (Coast = 35 years, Nairobi = 31 years; p < 0.001), more likely to be male (Coast = 77.6%, Nairobi = 61.7%; p < 0.001), to have paid (Coast = 59.2%, Nairobi = 32.8%; p < 0.001) or received (Coast = 44.2%, Nairobi 35.4%; p < 0.001) money for sex, or to have had sex with someone they knew to be HIV positive (Coast 22.0%, Nairobi 10.8%; p < 0.001). Partners who had injected for five or more years had 1.48 times greater odds (95% CI 1.20-1.82) of living with HIV compared to partners who injected less than 5 years and more than twice the odds of HCV (95% CI 1.84-4.11)., Conclusion: HIV and HCV seroprevalence among sexual and injecting partners of PWID was, respectively, 5 times and > 12 times greater than is reported among the general population in Kenya (4% and < 1%, respectively). Providing resources and education will be crucial to reduce exposure and to maintain the lower needle and equipment sharing that we observed compared to other studies., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Abstract: Sustained viral suppression in adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYALWH) is necessary for epidemic control. We evaluated facility and individual correlates of viral suppression using programmatic data from AYALWH between ages 10 and 24 years at 24 HIV clinics in Kenya. Binomial regression was used to evaluate correlates of viral load (VL) suppression (<1,000 copies/ml). Of 5,316 AYALWH on antiretroviral therapy ≥6 months, 2,081 (39%) had VLs available in the medical record, of which 76% were virally suppressed. In multivariable analyses, antiretroviral therapy initiation among AYALWH older than 10 years was associated with higher viral suppression than initiation younger than 10 years (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 10-14 = 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97-1.10; aRR 15-19 = 1.30, 95% CI 1.19-1.41; aRR 20-24 = 1.43, 95% CI 1.24-1.63). Facilities with both youth-friendly services (YFS) and trained providers had significantly higher VL suppression compared with facilities without YFS or trained providers (adjusted odds ratio: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.71-2.52). Viral suppression remains suboptimal among AYALWH. YFS and trained providers plus greater use of VL data may help increase viral suppression among AYALWH., (Copyright © 2021 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.)

Background: In Kenya, people who inject drugs (PWID) are disproportionately affected by HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) epidemics, including HIV-HCV coinfections; however, few have assessed factors affecting their access to and engagement in care through the lens of community-embedded, peer educators. This qualitative study leverages the personal and professional experiences of peer educators to help identify HIV and HCV barriers and facilitators to care among PWID in Nairobi, including resource recommendations to improve service uptake., Methods: We recruited peer educators from two harm reduction facilities in Nairobi, Kenya, using random and purposive sampling techniques. Semi-structured interviews explored circumstances surrounding HIV and HCV service access, prevention education and resource recommendations. A thematic analysis was conducted using the Modified Social Ecological Model (MSEM) as an underlying framework, with illustrative quotes highlighting emergent themes., Results: Twenty peer educators participated, including six women, with 2-months to 6-years of harm reduction service. Barriers to HIV and HCV care were organized by (a) individual-level themes including the competing needs of addiction and misinterpreted symptoms; (b) social network-level themes including social isolation and drug dealer interactions; (c) community-level themes including transportation, mental and rural healthcare services, and limited HCV resources; and (d) policy-level themes including nonintegrated health services, clinical administration, and law enforcement. Stigma, an overarching barrier, was highlighted throughout the MSEM. Facilitators to HIV and HCV care were comprised of (a) individual-level themes including concurrent care, personal reflections, and religious beliefs; (b) social network-level themes including community recommendations, navigation services, family commitment, and employer support; (c) community-level themes including quality services, peer support, and outreach; and (d) policy-level themes including integrated health services and medicalized approaches within law enforcement. Participant resource recommendations include (i) additional medical, social and ancillary support services, (ii) national strategies to address stigma and violence and (iii) HCV prevention education., Conclusions: Peer educators provided intimate knowledge of PWID barriers and facilitators to HIV and HCV care, described at each level of the MSEM, and should be given careful consideration when developing future initiatives. Recommendations emphasized policy and community-level interventions including educational campaigns and program suggestions to supplement existing HIV and HCV services., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Targeted, tailored interventions to test high-risk individuals for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are vital to achieving HIV control and HCV microelimination in Africa. Compared with the general population, people who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk of HIV and HCV and are less likely to be tested or successfully treated. Assisted partner services (APS) increases HIV testing among partners of people living with HIV and improves case finding and linkage to care. We describe a study in Kenya examining whether APS can be adapted to find, test and link to HIV care the partners of HIV-positive PWID using a network of community-embedded peer educators (PEs). Our study also identifies HCV-positive partners and uses phylogenetic analysis to determine risk factors for onward transmission of both viruses., Methods: This prospective cohort study leverages a network of PEs to identify 1000 HIV-positive PWID for enrolment as index participants. Each index completes a questionnaire and provides names and contact information of all sexual and injecting partners during the previous 3 years. PEs then use a stepwise locator protocol to engage partners in the community and bring them to study sites for enrolment, questionnaire completion and rapid HIV and HCV testing. Outcomes include number and type of partners per index who are mentioned, enrolled, tested, diagnosed with HIV and HCV and linked to care., Ethics and Dissemination: Potential index participants are screened for intimate partner violence (IPV) and those at high risk are not eligible to enrol. Those at medium risk are monitored for IPV following enrolment. A community advisory board engages in feedback and discussion between the community and the research team. A safety monitoring board discusses study progress and reviews data, including IPV monitoring data. Dissemination plans include presentations at quarterly Ministry of Health meetings, local and international conferences and publications., Trial Registration Number: NCT03447210, Pre-results stage., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: HIV-positive women suffer a high burden of mental disorders due in part to gender-based violence (GBV). Comorbid depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are typical psychiatric consequences of GBV. Despite attention to the HIV-GBV syndemic, few HIV clinics offer formal mental healthcare. This problem is acute in sub-Saharan Africa, where the world's majority of HIV-positive women live and prevalence of GBV is high., Methods and Findings: We conducted a randomized controlled trial at an HIV clinic in Kisumu, Kenya. GBV-affected HIV-positive women with both major depressive disorder (MDD) and PTSD were randomized to 12 sessions of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) plus treatment as usual (TAU) or Wait List+TAU. Nonspecialists were trained to deliver IPT inside the clinic. After 3 months, participants were reassessed, and those assigned to Wait List+TAU were given IPT. The primary outcomes were diagnosis of MDD and PTSD (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included symptom measures of depression and PTSD, intimate partner violence (IPV), and disability. A total of 256 participants enrolled between May 2015 and July 2016. At baseline, the mean age of the women in this study was 37 years; 61% reported physical IPV in the past week; 91% reported 2 or more lifetime traumatic events and monthly income was 18USD. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression showed that participants randomized to IPT+TAU had lower odds of MDD (odds ratio [OR] 0.26, 95% CI [0.11 to 0.60], p = 0.002) and lower odds of PTSD (OR 0.35, [0.14 to 0.86], p = 0.02) than controls. IPT+TAU participants had lower odds of MDD-PTSD comorbidity than controls (OR 0.36, 95% CI [0.15 to 0.90], p = 0.03). Linear mixed models were used to assess secondary outcomes: IPT+TAU participants had reduced disability (-6.9 [-12.2, -1.5], p = 0.01), and nonsignificantly reduced work absenteeism (-3.35 [-6.83, 0.14], p = 0.06); partnered IPT+TAU participants had a reduction of IPV (-2.79 [-5.42, -0.16], p = 0.04). Gains were maintained across 6-month follow-up. Treatment group differences were observed only at month 3, the time point at which the groups differed in IPT status (before cross over). Study limitations included 35% attrition inclusive of follow-up assessments, generalizability to populations not in HIV care, and data not collected on TAU resources accessed., Conclusions: IPT for MDD and PTSD delivered by nonspecialists in the context of HIV care yielded significant improvements in HIV-positive women's mental health, functioning, and GBV (IPV) exposure, compared to controls., Trial Registration: Clinical Trials Identifier NCT02320799., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Despite a doubling of HIV testing coverage in Kenya over the past decade, approximately 2 in 10 people with HIV remained unaware of their infection in 2018. HIV testing is most effective in identifying people with undiagnosed HIV through frequent and strategic testing in populations at high risk. An assessment of testing frequency and predictors of first-time and repeat testing is critical for monitoring effectiveness of testing strategies., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of adults aged ≥18 years who tested HIV-positive at 4 HIV testing and counseling clinics in Kenya from February 2015 to February 2016. We categorized individuals based on testing history, used Wilcoxon rank-sum tests to assess differences in intervals between the most recent and current HIV test, and used log-binomial regression to determine characteristics associated with first-time and repeat testing., Results: Among 1136 people testing HIV-positive, 336 (30%) had never tested before and 800 (70%) had, of whom 208 (26%) had previously tested positive. Among previously negative repeat testers, the median intertest interval was 414 days in key/priority populations (interquartile range = 179-1072) vs. 538 in the general population (interquartile range = 228-1299) (P = 0.09). Compared with previously negative repeat testers, being a first-time tester was associated with being age ≥40 years [vs. 18-24; adjusted risk ratio = 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23 to 2.26], men (vs. women; adjusted risk ratio = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.21 to 1.71), and testing through provider-initiated testing and counseling (vs. client initiated; 1.19, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.40)., Conclusions: There is a need to increase HIV testing among older individuals and men, increase testing frequency in key/priority populations, and maintain provider-initiated and facility-based testing to reach first-time testers.

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) remains a great challenge among young people in Kenya. Young people living with HIV are faced with a lot of challenges that are often overlooked and may have an impact on their treatment adherence and overall well-being. This calls for interventions that are age-appropriate and which tap into the psychosocial problems they experience. This is a protocol of a proposed study aimed at developing a facilitator-led peer support manual called the "Positive and Healthy Living Program" that will be the basis for running support groups with young people at the Comprehensive Care Center (CCC) at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Methods: We will carry out our study in two phases. The first phase will focus on the development of the manual and training of peer-facilitators. The second phase will make use of a pilot trial research design using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. It will be carried out among 10-24 year-olds attending CCC at KNH, and will consist of three groups: Tumaini Group (10-14 years), Amani Group (15-19 years), and Hodari Group (20-24 years). The groups will participate in an eight-session support group, whose activities will focus on four domains: social-recreation, psychotherapy, peer-modeling, and psychoeducation. Quantitative data will be collected using laboratory measures of Viral Load and CD4 as well as socio-psychological assessment tools. Qualitative data will be collected through interviews with the young people and peer facilitators. We will conduct a descriptive analysis which will describe the key features of the dataset and bivariate analyses will examine the association between variables. The change will be measured at baseline and post-treatment. The interviews will be coded into themes and we will generate experiential categories from the data around the effectiveness of the program, the peer facilitators' experience of providing support, how the young people respond to the program, and its influence on their overall well-being. Discussion: We expect that the peer facilitators will find this manualized treatment acceptable and the eight-sessions group intervention will be feasible for the three age groups. We hypothesize that there will be improvements detected with regards to reported adherence and viral load, self-esteem, depression, and psychological functioning., (Copyright © 2020 Machuka, Wambua, Musindo, Bukusi, Okech, Muiruri, Maina, Opiyo, Ng'ang'a and Kumar.)

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) assisted partner services (aPS) has been recommended as a strategy to increase HIV case finding. We evaluated factors associated with poor linkage to HIV care among newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals (index clients) and their partners after receiving aPS in Kenya., Methods: In a cluster randomized trial conducted between 2013 and 2015, 9 facilities were randomized to immediate aPS (intervention). Linkage to care-defined as HIV clinic registration, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation were self-reported. Antiretroviral therapy was only offered to those with CD4 less than 500 during this period. We estimated linkage to care and ART initiation separately for index clients and their partners using log-binomial generalized estimating equation models with exchangeable correlation structure and robust standard errors., Results: Overall, 550 index clients and 621 sex partners enrolled, of whom 46% (284 of 621) were HIV-positive. Of the 284, 264 (93%) sex partners returned at 6 weeks: 120 newly diagnosed and 144 whom had known HIV-positive status. Among the 120 newly diagnosed, only 69% (83) linked to care at 6 weeks, whereas among the 18 known HIV-positive sex partners not already in care at baseline, 61% (11) linked. Newly diagnosed HIV-positive sex partners who were younger and single were less likely to link to care (P < 0.05 for all)., Conclusion: Only two thirds of newly diagnosed, and known HIV-positive sex partners not in care linked to care after receiving aPS. The HIV aPS programs should optimize HIV care for newly diagnosed HIV-positive sex partners, especially those who are younger and single.

In our field sites and clinical practice in East Africa, we regularly encounter men who have become overwhelmed by "thinking too many thoughts" and "gone crazy from confusion," brought about by the problems of life created by deepening social, economic and political precarity. Across diverse settings, many African men continue to be enmeshed in social and material obligations and expectations that position them as economic consumers and providers for those they care for and love. When these gendered obligations, expectations and fantasies are left unfulfilled, this sense of failure can be embodied to produce particular kinds of health effects. Namely, men may become plagued by troublesome and confusing thoughts, leading them in some cases to "give up on" (as our research subjects put it) pursuing work and education, to become immersed in problematic drug and alcohol use, and even to take their own lives. While these afflictions can be glossed using the language of depression, anxiety, addiction and suicide, such medicalizing frames may obscure more nuanced social, structural and affective diagnoses of what is happening to men across Africa and globally. Anthropology provides us with alternative frames through which to understand how psychological wounds are made-and healed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Use of routine HIV programme data for surveillance is often limited due to inaccuracies associated with patient misclassification which can be addressed by unique patient identification.We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of integrating an iris recognition biometric identification system into routine HIV care services at 4 sites in Kenya., Methods: Patients who had recently tested HIV-positive or were engaged in care were enrolled. Images of the iris were captured using a dual-iris camera connected to a laptop. A prototype iris biometric identification system networked across the sites, analysed the iris patterns; created a template from those patterns; and generated a 12-digit ID number based on the template. During subsequent visits, the patients' irises were re-scanned, and the pattern was matched to stored templates to retrieve the ID number., Results: Over 55 weeks 8,614 (98%) of 8,794 new patients were assigned a unique ID on their first visit. Among 6,078 return visits, the system correctly re-identified patients' IDs 5,234 times (86%). The false match rate (a new patient given the ID of another patient) was 0·5% while the generalized false reject rate (re-scans assigned a new ID) was 4·7%. Overall, 9 (0·1%) agreed to enrol but declined to have an iris scan. The most common reasons cited for declining an iris scan were concerns about privacy and confidentiality., Conclusion: Implementation of an iris recognition system in routine health information systems is feasible and highly acceptable as part of routine care in Kenya. Scale-up could improve unique patient identification and tracking, enhancing disease surveillance activities., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Lack of health care worker (HCW) training is a barrier to implementing youth-friendly services. We examined training coverage and self-reported competence, defined as knowledge, abilities, and attitudes, of HCWs caring for adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) in Kenya. Surveys were conducted with 24 managers and 142 HCWs. Competence measures were guided by expert input and Kalamazoo II Consensus items. Health care workers had a median of 3 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1-6) years of experience working with ALWH, and 40.1% reported exposure to any ALWH training. Median overall competence was 78.1% (IQR: 68.8-84.4). In multivariable linear regression analyses, more years caring for ALWH and any prior training in adolescent HIV care were associated with significantly higher self-rated competence. Training coverage for adolescent HIV care remains suboptimal. Targeting HCWs with less work experience and training exposure may be a useful and efficient approach to improve quality of youth-friendly HIV services.

Background: Mental disorders are a leading cause of global disability, driven primarily by depression and anxiety. Most of the disease burden is in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), where 75% of adults with mental disorders have no service access. Our research team has worked in western Kenya for nearly ten years. Primary care populations in Kenya have high prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To address these treatment needs with a sustainable, scalable mental health care strategy, we are partnering with local and national mental health stakeholders in Kenya and Uganda to identify 1) evidence-based strategies for first-line and second-line treatment delivered by non-specialists integrated with primary care, 2) investigate presumed mediators of treatment outcome and 3) determine patient-level moderators of treatment effect to inform personalized, resource-efficient, non-specialist treatments and sequencing, with costing analyses. Our implementation approach is guided by the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework., Methods/design: We will use a Sequential, Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) to randomize 2710 patients from the outpatient clinics at Kisumu County Hospital (KCH) who have MDD, PTSD or both to either 12 weekly sessions of non-specialist-delivered Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) or to 6 months of fluoxetine prescribed by a nurse or clinical officer. Participants who are not in remission at the conclusion of treatment will be re-randomized to receive the other treatment (IPT receives fluoxetine and vice versa) or to combination treatment (IPT and fluoxetine). The SMART-DAPPER Implementation Resource Team, (IRT) will drive the application of the EPIS model and adaptations during the course of the study to optimize the relevance of the data for generalizability and scale -up., Discussion: The results of this research will be significant in three ways: 1) they will determine the effectiveness of non-specialist delivered first- and second-line treatment for MDD and/or PTSD, 2) they will investigate key mechanisms of action for each treatment and 3) they will produce tailored adaptive treatment strategies essential for optimal sequencing of treatment for MDD and/or PTSD in low resource settings with associated cost information - a critical gap for addressing a leading global cause of disability., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03466346, registered March 15, 2018.

Poor retention in HIV care remains a major problem for Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA). A Standardized Patient (SP) clinical training intervention was developed to improve healthcare worker (HCW) "adolescent-friendly" competencies in Kenya. Professional actors were trained to portray HIV-infected AYA according to standardized scripts. HCWs completed a 2-day SP training that included didactic sessions, 7 video-recorded SP encounters, and group debriefing. AYA health experts rated HCWs by reviewing the video recordings. All HCWs (10/10) reported high satisfaction with the intervention and overall improvement in self-rated competency in caring for HIV-infected AYA. Cases were reported to be realistic and relevant by between 7 and 10 of 10 HCWs. The case on disclosure and adherence was rated as most challenging in communication and making medical decisions by HCWs. Areas identified by SPs for improvement by HCWs included allowing patients time to ask questions, and enabling SP to share sensitive information. The overall ICC by experts was low 0.27 (95% CI: -0.79 to 0.95), however, ICCs in assessment of HIV disclosure 0.78 (95% CI: 0.17-0.98), and sexual behavior 0.97 (95% CI: 0.89-0.99) were high. This intervention was acceptable for Kenyan HCWs and improved self-rated competency in caring for HIV-infected AYA.

Background: Emergency Departments are underutilized settings for suicide prevention and management as patients with occult (camouflaged) suicides and suicidal ideation are rarely screened by nurses and other health workers in these sites. The under-detection rates could be a result of lack of suicide assessment and management confidence among the hospital staff. The aim of the study was to find out the perceived self-efficacy in suicide risk assessment, management and referral among nurses working in an emergency department within a lower income country., Method: The Risk Assessment and Management Self-Efficacy Scale (RAMSES) was administered among nurses in an emergency department (ED) within an urban region in a descriptive study. The risk assessment, management and referral domains among 64 respondents were evaluated using mean and standard deviation calculations in SPSS v 21., Results: The total RAMSES composite score in risk assessment, management and referral was 6.19 (SD 2.107) with risk assessment having the lowest mean score of 6.09 (SD 2.08), while risk referral process mean score was the highest at 6.55 (SD 2.36). The nurses had the least confidence in developing a written risk management plan 5.68 (SD 2.51) as well as using screening instruments to assess risk 5.90 (SD 2.15)., Findings: Nurses in emergency department have below average self-efficacy in suicide assessment and management necessitating training as well as integration of protocols that could enhance effective utilization of emergency departments as suicide prevention and management settings., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Objectives: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) have poorer retention, viral suppression, and survival than other age groups. We evaluated correlates of initial AYA engagement in HIV care at facilities participating in a randomized trial in Kenya., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Methods: Electronic medical records from AYA ages 10-24 attending 24 HIV care facilities in Kenya were abstracted. Facility surveys assessed provider trainings and services. HIV provider surveys assessed AYA training and work experience. Engagement in care was defined as return for first follow-up visit within 3 months among newly enrolled or recently re-engaged (returning after >3 months out of care) AYA. Multilevel regression estimated risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), accounting for clustering by facility. Final models adjusted for AYA individual age and median AYA age and number enrolled per facility., Results: Among 3662 AYA records at first eligible visit, most were female (75.1%), older (20-24 years: 54.5%), and on antiretroviral therapy (79.5%). Overall, 2639 AYA returned for care (72.1%) after enrollment or re-engagement visit. Engagement in care among AYA was significantly higher at facilities offering provider training in adolescent-friendly care (85.5 vs. 67.7%; adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.22) and that used the Kenyan government's AYA care checklist (88.9 vs. 69.2%; aRR 1.14, 95% CI: 1.06-1.23). Engagement was also significantly higher at facilities where providers reported being trained in AYA HIV care (aRR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.13-2.16)., Conclusion: Adolescent-specific health provider training and tools may improve quality of care and subsequent AYA engagement. Health provider interventions are needed to achieve the '95-95-95' targets for AYA.

HIV incidence and mortality are high among adolescents and young adults (AYA) in sub-Saharan Africa, but testing rates are low. Understanding how support people (SP), such as peers, partners, or parents, influence AYA may improve HIV testing uptake. AYA aged 14-24 seeking HIV testing at a referral hospital in Nairobi, Kenya completed a post-test survey assessing the role of SP. Among 1062 AYA, median age was 21. Overall, 12% reported their decision to test was influenced by a parent, 20% by a partner, and 22% by a peer. Young adults (20-24 years old) were more likely than adolescents (14-19 years old) to be influenced to test by partners (23% vs. 12%, p < .001), and less likely by parents (6.6% vs. 27%, p < .001), healthcare workers (11% vs. 16%, p < .05), or counselors (9.4% vs. 19%, p < .001). Half of AYA were accompanied for testing (9.9% with parent, 10% partner, 23% peer, 4.3% others, and 2.1% multiple types). Young adults were more likely than adolescents to present alone (58% vs. 32%, p < .001) or with a partner (12% vs. 6.7%, p < .05), and less likely with a parent (1.6% vs. 31%, p < .001). Similar proportions of adolescents and young adults came with a peer or in a group. Correlates of presenting with SP included: younger age (aRR = 1.55 [95%CI = 1.30-1.85]), female sex (aRR = 1.45 [95%CI = 1.21-1.73]), and school enrollment (aRR = 1.41 [95%CI = 1.05-1.88]). SP play an important role in AYAs' HIV testing and varies with age. Leveraging SP may promote uptake of HIV testing and subsequent linkage care for AYA.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is a significant public health and social welfare problem in low-and middle income countries (LMICs). However, most ACEs research is based on developed countries, and little is known about mechanisms of early ACEs on adulthood health and offspring's wellbeing for populations in LMICs. This area is needed to guide social welfare policy and intervention service planning. This study addresses these research gaps by examining patterns of ACEs and understanding the role of ACEs on adulthood health (i.e., physical, mental health, experience of underage pregnancy) and offspring's mental health in Kenya. The study was guided by an Integrated Family Stress and Adverse Childhood Experiences Mediation Framework., Methods: Three hundred ninety four mothers from two informal communities in Kariobangi and Kangemi in Nairobi were included in this study. The Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Overall Health and Quality of Life items, and Child Behavior Checklist were used to study research questions. Data was gathered through a one-time interview with mothers. Structural Equational Modeling (SEM) was applied for mediational mechanism testing., Results: Among 13 ACE areas, most mothers experienced multiple adversity during their childhood (Mean (SD) = 4.93 (2.52)), with household member treated violently (75%) as the most common ACE. SEM results showedthat all domains of ACEs were associated with some aspects of maternal health, and all three domains of maternal health (maternal mental health, physical health, and adolescent pregnancy) were significantly associated with development of offspring's mental health problems., Conclusion: ACEs are highly prevalent in Kenyan informal settlements. Consistent with cross cultural literature on family stress model, maternal ACEs are robust predictors for poor child mental health. Preventive interventions for child mental health need to address maternal adverse childhood traumatic experiences as well as their current health in order to effectively promote child mental health.

Background: The elicitation of contact information, notification and testing of sex partners of HIV infected patients (aPS), is an effective HIV testing strategy in low-income settings but may not necessarily be affordable. We applied WHO guidelines and the International Society for Pharmaco-economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guidelines to conduct cost and budget impact analyses, respectively, of aPS compared to current practice of HIV testing services (HTS) in Kisumu County, Kenya., Methods: Using study data and time motion studies, we constructed an Excel-based tool to estimate costs and the budget impact of aPS. Cost data were collected from selected facilities in Kisumu County. We report the annual total and unit costs of HTS, incremental total and unit costs for aPS, and the budget impact of scaling up aPS over a 5-year horizon. We also considered a task-shifted scenario that used community health workers (CHWs) rather than facility based health workers and conducted sensitivity analyses assuming different rates of scale up of aPS., Results: The average unit costs for HIV testing among HIV-infected index clients was US$ 25.36 per client and US$ 17.86 per client using nurses and CHWs, respectively. The average incremental costs for providing enhanced aPS in Kisumu County were US$ 1,092,161 and US$ 753,547 per year, using nurses and CHWs, respectively. The average incremental cost of scaling up aPS over a five period was 45% higher when using nurses compared to using CHWs (US$ 5,460,837 and US$ 3,767,738 respectively). Over the five years, the upper-bound budget impact of nurse-model was US$ 1,767,863, 63% and 35% of which were accounted for by aPS costs and ART costs, respectively. The CHW model incurred an upper-bound incremental cost of US$ 1,258,854, which was 71.2% lower than the nurse-based model. The budget impact was sensitive to the level of aPS coverage and ranged from US$ 28,547 for 30% coverage using CHWs in 2014 to US$ 1,267,603 for 80% coverage using nurses in 2018., Conclusion: Scaling aPS using nurses has minimal budget impact but not cost-saving over a five-year period. Targeting aPS to newly-diagnosed index cases and task-shifting to community health workers is recommended.

Background: HIV assisted partner services (APS) are a notification and testing strategy for sex partners of HIV-infected index patients. This cluster-randomized controlled trial secondary data analysis investigated whether history of intimate partner violence (IPV) modified APS effectiveness and risk of relationship dissolution., Setting: Eighteen HIV testing and counseling sites in Kenya randomized to provide immediate APS (intervention) or APS delayed for 6 weeks (control)., Methods: History of IPV was ascertained at study enrollment and defined as reporting ever experiencing physical or sexual IPV. Those reporting IPV in the month before enrollment were excluded. We tested whether history of IPV modified intervention effectiveness and risk of relationship dissolution using population-averaged Poisson and log-binomial generalized estimating equation models. Exploratory analyses investigated associations between history of IPV and events that occurred after HIV diagnosis using log-binomial generalized estimating equation models., Results: The study enrolled 1119 index participants and 1286 partners. Among index participants, 81 (7%) had history of IPV. History of IPV did not modify APS effectiveness in testing, newly diagnosing, or linking partners to care. History of IPV did not modify the association between receiving immediate APS and relationship dissolution during the study., Conclusions: Among participants who had not experienced IPV in the last month but had experienced IPV in their lifetimes, our results suggest that APS is an effective and safe partner notification strategy in Kenya. As APS is scaled up in different contexts, these data support including those reporting past IPV and closely monitoring adverse events.

Background: Assisted partner services (aPS) or provider notification for sexual partners of persons diagnosed HIV positive can increase HIV testing and linkage in Sub-Saharan Africa and is a high yield strategy to identify HIV-positive persons. However, its cost-effectiveness is not well evaluated., Methods: Using effectiveness and cost data from an aPS trial in Kenya, we parameterized an individual-based, dynamic HIV transmission model. We estimated costs for both a program scenario and a task-shifting scenario using community health workers to conduct the intervention. We simulated 200 cohorts of 500 000 individuals and projected the health and economic effects of scaling up aPS in a region of western Kenya (formerly Nyanza Province)., Findings: Over a 10-year time horizon with universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, implementing aPS in western Kenya was projected to reach 12.5% of the population and reduce incident HIV infections by 3.7%. In sexual partners receiving aPS, HIV-related deaths were reduced by 13.7%. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of aPS was $1094 (US dollars) (90% model variability $823-1619) and $833 (90% model variability $628-1224) per disability-adjusted life year averted under the program and task-shifting scenario, respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for both scenarios fall below Kenya's gross domestic product per capita ($1358) and are therefore considered very cost-effective. Results were robust to varying healthcare costs, linkage to care rates, partner concurrency rates, and ART eligibility thresholds (≤350 cells/μl, ≤500 cells/μl, and universal ART)., Interpretation: APS is cost-effective for reducing HIV-related morbidity and mortality in western Kenya and similar settings. Task shifting can increase program affordability.

Background: Adolescent-friendly policies aim to tailor HIV services for adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 years (AYA) to promote health outcomes and improve retention in HIV care and treatment. However, few interventions focus on improving healthcare worker (HCW) competencies and skills for provision of high-quality adolescent care. Standardized patients (SPs) are trained actors who work with HCWs in mock clinical encounters to improve clinical assessment, communication, and empathy skills. This stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial will evaluate a clinical training intervention utilizing SPs to improve HCW skills in caring for HIV-positive AYA, resulting in increased retention in care., Methods/design: The trial will utilize a stepped-wedge design to evaluate a training intervention using SPs to train HCWs in assessment, communication, and empathy skills for AYA HIV care. We will recruit 24 clinics in Kenya with an active electronic medical record (EMR) system and at least 40 adolescents enrolled in HIV care per site. Stratified randomization by county will be used to assign clinics to one of four waves - time periods when they receive the intervention - with each wave including six clinics. From each clinic, up to 10 HCWs will participate in the training intervention. SP training includes didactic sessions in adolescent health, current guidelines, communication skills, and motivational interviewing techniques. HCW participants will rotate through seven standardized SP scenarios, followed by SP feedback, group debriefing, and remote expert evaluation. AYA outcomes will be assessed using routine clinic data. The primary outcome is AYA retention in HIV care, defined as returning for first follow-up visit within 6 months of presenting to care, or returning for a first follow-up visit after re-engagement in care in AYA with a previous history of being lost to follow-up. Secondary outcomes include HCW competency scores, AYA satisfaction with care, and AYA clinical outcomes including CD4 and viral load. Additional analyses will determine cost-effectiveness of the intervention., Discussion: This trial will contribute valuable information to HIV programs in Kenya and other low-resource settings, providing a potentially scalable strategy to improve quality of care and retention in critical HIV services in this population., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02928900. Registered 26 August 2016.

Objectives: To determine whether continuous quality improvement (CQI) improves quality of HIV testing services for adolescents and young adults (AYA)., Design: CQI was introduced at two HIV testing settings: Youth Centre and Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Center, at a national referral hospital in Nairobi, Kenya., Methods: Primary outcomes were AYA satisfaction with HIV testing services, intent to return, and accurate HIV prevention and transmission knowledge. Healthcare worker (HCW) satisfaction assessed staff morale. T tests and interrupted time series analysis using Prais-Winsten regression and generalized estimating equations accounting for temporal trends and autocorrelation were conducted., Results: There were 172 AYA (Youth Centre = 109, VCT = 63) during 6 baseline weeks and 702 (Youth Centre = 454, VCT = 248) during 24 intervention weeks. CQI was associated with an immediate increase in the proportion of AYA with accurate knowledge of HIV transmission at Youth Centre: 18 vs. 63% [adjusted risk difference (aRD) 0.42,95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21 to 0.63], and a trend at VCT: 38 vs. 72% (aRD 0.30, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.63). CQI was associated with an increase in the proportion of AYA with accurate HIV prevention knowledge in VCT: 46 vs. 61% (aRD 0.39, 95% CI 0.02-0.76), but not Youth Centre (P = 0.759). In VCT, CQI showed a trend towards increased intent to retest (4.0 vs. 4.3; aRD 0.78, 95% CI -0.11 to 1.67), but not at Youth Centre (P = 0.19). CQI was not associated with changes in AYA satisfaction, which was high during baseline and intervention at both clinics (P = 0.384, P = 0.755). HCW satisfaction remained high during intervention and baseline (P = 0.746)., Conclusion: CQI improved AYA knowledge and did not negatively impact HCW satisfaction. Quality improvement interventions may be useful to improve adolescent-friendly service delivery.

Objectives: Adolescents in Africa have low HIV testing rates. Better understanding of adolescent, provider, and caregiver experiences in high-burden countries such as Kenya could improve adolescent HIV testing programs., Design: We conducted 16 qualitative interviews with HIV-positive and HIV-negative adolescents (13-18 years) and six focus group discussions with Healthcare workers (HCWs) and caregivers of adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya., Methods: Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed. Analysis employed a modified constant comparative approach to triangulate findings and identify themes influencing testing experiences and practices., Results: All groups identified that supportive interactions during testing were essential to the adolescent's positive testing experience. HCWs were a primary source of support during testing. HCWs who acted respectful and informed helped adolescents accept results, link to care, or return for repeat testing, whereas HCWs who acted dismissive or judgmental discouraged adolescent testing. Caregivers universally supported adolescent testing, including testing with the adolescent to demonstrate support. Caregivers relied on HCWs to inform and encourage adolescents. Although peers played less significant roles during testing, all groups agreed that school-based outreach could increase peer demand and counteract stigma. All groups recognized tensions around adolescent autonomy in the absence of clear consent guidelines. Adolescents valued support people during testing but wanted autonomy over testing and disclosure decisions. HCWs felt pressured to defer consent to caregivers. Caregivers wanted to know results regardless of adolescents' wishes., Conclusion: Findings indicate that strengthening HCW, caregiver, and peer capacities to support adolescents while respecting their autonomy may facilitate attaining '90-90-90' targets for adolescents.

Background: Assisted partner services for index patients with HIV infections involves elicitation of information about sex partners and contacting them to ensure that they test for HIV and link to care. Assisted partner services are not widely available in Africa. We aimed to establish whether or not assisted partner services increase HIV testing, diagnoses, and linkage to care among sex partners of people with HIV infections in Kenya., Methods: In this cluster randomised controlled trial, we recruited non-pregnant adults aged at least 18 years with newly or recently diagnosed HIV without a recent history of intimate partner violence who had not yet or had only recently linked to HIV care from 18 HIV testing services clinics in Kenya. Consenting sites in Kenya were randomly assigned (1:1) by the study statistician (restricted randomisation; balanced distribution in terms of county and proximity to a city) to immediate versus delayed assisted partner services. Primary outcomes were the number of partners tested for HIV, the number who tested HIV positive, and the number enrolled in HIV care, in those who were interviewed at 6 week follow-up. Participants within each cluster were masked to treatment allocation because participants within each cluster received the same intervention. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01616420., Findings: Between Aug 12, 2013, and Aug 31, 2015, we randomly allocated 18 clusters to immediate and delayed HIV assisted partner services (nine in each group), enrolling 1305 participants: 625 (48%) in the immediate group and 680 (52%) in the delayed group. 6 weeks after enrolment of index patients, 392 (67%) of 586 partners had tested for HIV in the immediate group and 85 (13%) of 680 had tested in the delayed group (incidence rate ratio 4·8, 95% CI 3·7-6·4). 136 (23%) partners had new HIV diagnoses in the immediate group compared with 28 (4%) in the delayed group (5·0, 3·2-7·9) and 88 (15%) versus 19 (3%) were newly enrolled in care (4·4, 2·6-7·4). Assisted partner services did not increase intimate partner violence (one intimate partner violence event related to partner notification or study procedures occurred in each group)., Interpretation: Assisted partner services are safe and increase HIV testing and case-finding; implementation at the population level could enhance linkage to care and antiretroviral therapy initiation and substantially decrease HIV transmission., Funding: National Institutes of Health., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Assisted partner services (APS) are more effective than passive referral in identifying new cases of HIV in many settings. Understanding the barriers to the uptake of APS in sub-Saharan Africa is important before its scale up. In this qualitative study, we explored client, community, and healthcare worker barriers to APS within a cluster randomized trial of APS in Kenya. We conducted 20 in-depth interviews with clients who declined enrollment in the APS study and 9 focus group discussions with health advisors, HIV testing and counseling (HTC) counselors, and the general HTC client population. Two analysts coded the data using an open coding approach and identified major themes and subthemes. Many participants reported needing more time to process an HIV-positive result before providing partner information. Lack of trust in the HTC counselor led many to fear a breach of confidentiality, which exacerbated the fears of stigma in the community and relationship conflicts. The type of relationship affected the decision to provide partner information, and the lack of understanding of APS at the community level contributed to the discomfort in enrolling in the study. Establishing trust between the client and HTC counselor may increase uptake of APS in Kenya. A client's decision to provide partner information may depend on the type of relationship he or she is in, and alternative methods of disclosure may need to be offered to accommodate different contexts. Spreading awareness about APS in the community may make clients more comfortable providing partner information., Competing Interests: Author Disclosure Statement No competing financial interests exist.

Background: The utilization of routine health information systems (HIS) for surveillance of assisted partner services (aPS) for HIV in sub-Saharan is sub-optimal, in part due to poor data quality and limited use of information technology. Consequently, little is known about coverage, scope and quality of HIV aPS. Yet, affordable electronic data tools, software and data transmission infrastructure are now widely accessible in sub-Saharan Africa., Methods: We designed and implemented a cased-based surveillance system using the HIV testing platform in 18 health facilities in Kenya. The components of this system included an electronic HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) intake form, data transmission on the Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM), and data collection using the Open Data Kit (ODK) platform. We defined rates of new HIV diagnoses, and characterized HIV-infected cases. We also determined the proportion of clients who reported testing for HIV because a) they were notified by a sexual partner b) they were notified by a health provider, or c) they were informed of exposure by another other source. Data collection times were evaluated., Results: Among 4351 clients, HIV prevalence was 14.2 %, ranging from 4.4-25.4 % across facilities. Regardless of other reasons for testing, only 107 (2.5 %) of all participants reported testing after being notified by a health provider or sexual partner. A similar proportion, 1.8 % (79 of 4351), reported partner notification as the only reason for seeking an HIV test. Among 79 clients who reported HIV partner services as the reason for testing, the majority (78.5 %), were notified by their sexual partners. The majority (52.8 %) of HIV-infected patients initiated their HIV testing, and 57.2 % tested in a Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) site co-located in a health facility. Median time for data capture was 4 min (IQR: 3-15), with a longer duration for HIV-infected participants, and there was no reported data loss., Conclusion: aPS surveillance using new technologies is feasible, and could be readily expanded into HIV registries in Kenya and other sub-Saharan countries. Partner services are under-utilized in Kenya but further documentation of coverage and implementation gaps for HIV and aPS services is required.

Background: HIV case-finding and linkage to care are critical for control of HIV transmission. In Kenya, >50% of seropositive individuals are unaware of their status. Assisted partner notification is a public health strategy that provides HIV testing to individuals with sexual exposure to HIV and are at risk of infection and disease. This parallel, cluster-randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility of implementing HIV assisted partner notification services at HIV testing sites (clusters) in Kenya., Methods/design: Eighteen sites were selected among health facilities in Kenya with well-established, high-volume HIV testing programs, to reflect diverse communities and health-care settings. Restricted randomization was used to balance site characteristics between study arms (n = 9 per arm). Sixty individuals testing HIV positive ('index partners') will be enrolled per site (inclusion criteria: ≥18 years, positive HIV test at a study site, willing to disclose sexual partners, and never enrolled for HIV care; exclusion criteria: pregnancy or high risk of intimate partner violence). Index partners provide names and contact information for all sexual partners in the past 3 years. At intervention sites, study staff immediately contact sexual partners to notify them of exposure, offer HIV testing, and link to care if HIV seropositive. At control sites, passive partner referral is performed according to national guidelines, and assisted partner notification is delayed by 6 weeks. Primary outcomes, assessed 6 weeks after index partner enrollment and analyzed at the cluster level, are the number of partners accepting HIV testing and number of HIV infections diagnosed and linked to care per index partner. Secondary outcomes are the incremental cost-effectiveness of partner notification and the costs of identifying >1 partner per index case. Participants are closely monitored for adverse outcomes, particularly intimate partner violence. The study is unblinded due to practical limitations., Discussion: This rigorously designed trial will inform policy decisions regarding implementation of HIV partner notification services in Kenya, with possible application to other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Examination of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in diverse settings will enable targeted application and define best practices., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01616420 .

The harmful effects of sexual abuse are long lasting. Sexual abuse when associated with violence is likely to impact negatively on the life of the victim. Anecdotal reports indicate that there was an increase in the number of cases of sexual violence following the 2007 post election conflict and violence in Kenya. Although such increases in sexual abuse are common during war or conflict periods the above reports have not been confirmed through research evidence. The purpose of the current study is to establish the trend in numbers of reported cases of sexual abuse at Kenyatta National Hospital over a 4-year period (2006-2009). Data on sexually abused persons for the year 2006-2009 was retrieved from the hospitals record. A researcher designed questionnaire was used to collect relevant data from the completed Post Rape Care (PRC) form. The PRC-Ministry of Health no. 363 (MOH363) form is mandatorily completed by the physician attending the sexually abused patient. There was an increase in the number of cases of sexual abuse reported in 2007 election year in Kenya, with a statistically significant increase in the sexually abused male cases. Sexual crime is more prevalent when there is war or conflict., Competing Interests: Conflict of interests: the authors declare no potential conflict of interests.