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Objective To determine the role of participant factors on the acceptance of a Prevention-of-Mother-to-Child (PMTCT) HIV test programme in a situation with an opt-out testing strategy. Methods We analysed antenatal clinic (ANC) HIV sentinel surveillance data. All 43 sites in the 2005 round of Kenya’s ANC surveillance offered opt-out PMTCT services and recorded if women were offered PMTCT HIV testing and whether they accepted or refused. Logistic regression was used to determine the role of participant-level factors on PMTCT acceptance. Results During the period of sentinel surveillance, 13 026 women attended ANC and testing was offered to 12 030 women. Of those offered testing, 9690 (80.5%) accepted, with a large variation in the percent of acceptors by site. Age, residence and educational status were significant determinants of PMTCT acceptance. However, after adjusting for site none of the participant-level factors were significant determinants of PMTCT acceptance. Conclusions Participant level factors were not significant determinants of PMTCT HIV test acceptance after adjusting for sites. PMTCT programmes should collect and evaluate the role of site-level (provider and testing service) factors on PMTCT acceptance. Improvement of site-level factors could improve PMTCT uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations and WHO have summoned governments from low-income and middle-income countries to institute universal health coverage and thereby improve their population's healthcare access and outcomes. Until now, few countries responded favourably to this international plea. The HIV/AIDS epidemic, a major global public health challenge, resulted in over 11 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. Extended families have taken responsibility for more than 90% of these children. HIV orphans are likely to be poorer and less healthy. Burkitt lymphoma is the most common childhood cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. If orphans need lifesaving chemotherapy, appointing legal guardians becomes necessary to access health insurance. However, rules and regulations involved may be unclear and costly. This hinders its access for poor families who need it most. Uninsured children risk hospital detention over unpaid medical bills and have lower survival. Our case report depicts the quest for health insurance coverage of two HIV orphans with Burkitt lymphoma in Kenya., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)