Provision of HIV testing services and its impact on the HIV positivity rate in the public health sector in KwaZulu-Natal: a ten-year review

South Africa has been rated as having the most severe HIV epidemic in the world since it has one of the largest populations of people living with HIV (PLHIV). KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is the epicentre of the HIV epidemic. The HIV test and treat services in the public health sector are critical to managin...

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Main Authors: Rizwana Desai, Stanley Onwubu, Elizabeth Lutge, Nondumiso Patience Buthelezi, Nirvasha Moodley, Firoza Haffejee, Bontle Segobe, Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna, Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya, Champaklal Chhaganlal Jinabhai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:SAHARA-J
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17290376.2024.2318797
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author Rizwana Desai
Stanley Onwubu
Elizabeth Lutge
Nondumiso Patience Buthelezi
Nirvasha Moodley
Firoza Haffejee
Bontle Segobe
Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna
Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya
Champaklal Chhaganlal Jinabhai
author_facet Rizwana Desai
Stanley Onwubu
Elizabeth Lutge
Nondumiso Patience Buthelezi
Nirvasha Moodley
Firoza Haffejee
Bontle Segobe
Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna
Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya
Champaklal Chhaganlal Jinabhai
author_sort Rizwana Desai
collection DOAJ
description South Africa has been rated as having the most severe HIV epidemic in the world since it has one of the largest populations of people living with HIV (PLHIV). KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is the epicentre of the HIV epidemic. The HIV test and treat services in the public health sector are critical to managing the epidemic and responding to the increase in HIV infections. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health (DOH) commissioned a review of the provision of HIV testing services in the province and aimed to investigate its impact on the HIV positivity rate over a ten-year period. The study was an ecological study design using data extracted from the Department’s District Health Information System (DHIS). Descriptive analysis was conducted in addition to ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. The results of this study have shown that the total number of HIV tests conducted over the ten-year period in the province has increased with the highest number of HIV tests being conducted in the 2018/2019 MTEF year. ANOVA analysis indicates that there was a statistically significant difference in the total number of HIV tests conducted and the number of HIV tests per 100 000 population across the province’s 11 districts (p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences were observed in the HIV testing rate and in the HIV positivity rate over the period (p < 0.001). Results from multiple regression analysis showed that the HIV testing rate per 100 000 population was the strongest predictor of the HIV positivity rate. HIV positivity among clients correlated negatively with the number of HIV tests conducted per 100 000 population (r = −0.823; p < 0.001) and the HIV testing rate (r = −0.324; p < 0.01). This study has found that HIV testing could have an impact on reducing the positivity rate of HIV in the province and is therefore an effective strategy in curbing the HIV epidemic. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health should ensure that strategies for implementing and maintaining HIV testing and treating services should continue at an accelerated rate in order to achieve the first 95 of the UNAIDS 2025 SDG target.
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spelling doaj-art-795c32e203634024b644df1d0ea053b02025-08-20T02:48:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSAHARA-J1729-03761813-44242024-12-0121110.1080/17290376.2024.2318797Provision of HIV testing services and its impact on the HIV positivity rate in the public health sector in KwaZulu-Natal: a ten-year reviewRizwana Desai0Stanley Onwubu1Elizabeth Lutge2Nondumiso Patience Buthelezi3Nirvasha Moodley4Firoza Haffejee5Bontle Segobe6Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna7Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya8Champaklal Chhaganlal Jinabhai9KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, Health Services Planning, Monitoring &amp; Evaluation, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaChemistry Department, Durban University of Technology, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaSchool of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaKwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, Health Services Planning, Monitoring &amp; Evaluation, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaKwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, Health Services Planning, Monitoring &amp; Evaluation, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaBasic Medical Sciences, Durban University of Technology, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaKwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, Health Services Planning, Monitoring &amp; Evaluation, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaFaculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaFaculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaFaculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaSouth Africa has been rated as having the most severe HIV epidemic in the world since it has one of the largest populations of people living with HIV (PLHIV). KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is the epicentre of the HIV epidemic. The HIV test and treat services in the public health sector are critical to managing the epidemic and responding to the increase in HIV infections. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health (DOH) commissioned a review of the provision of HIV testing services in the province and aimed to investigate its impact on the HIV positivity rate over a ten-year period. The study was an ecological study design using data extracted from the Department’s District Health Information System (DHIS). Descriptive analysis was conducted in addition to ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. The results of this study have shown that the total number of HIV tests conducted over the ten-year period in the province has increased with the highest number of HIV tests being conducted in the 2018/2019 MTEF year. ANOVA analysis indicates that there was a statistically significant difference in the total number of HIV tests conducted and the number of HIV tests per 100 000 population across the province’s 11 districts (p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences were observed in the HIV testing rate and in the HIV positivity rate over the period (p < 0.001). Results from multiple regression analysis showed that the HIV testing rate per 100 000 population was the strongest predictor of the HIV positivity rate. HIV positivity among clients correlated negatively with the number of HIV tests conducted per 100 000 population (r = −0.823; p < 0.001) and the HIV testing rate (r = −0.324; p < 0.01). This study has found that HIV testing could have an impact on reducing the positivity rate of HIV in the province and is therefore an effective strategy in curbing the HIV epidemic. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health should ensure that strategies for implementing and maintaining HIV testing and treating services should continue at an accelerated rate in order to achieve the first 95 of the UNAIDS 2025 SDG target.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17290376.2024.2318797HIV testingHIV testing servicesHIV programmeHIV preventionHIV prevalenceHIV positivity rate
spellingShingle Rizwana Desai
Stanley Onwubu
Elizabeth Lutge
Nondumiso Patience Buthelezi
Nirvasha Moodley
Firoza Haffejee
Bontle Segobe
Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna
Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya
Champaklal Chhaganlal Jinabhai
Provision of HIV testing services and its impact on the HIV positivity rate in the public health sector in KwaZulu-Natal: a ten-year review
SAHARA-J
HIV testing
HIV testing services
HIV programme
HIV prevention
HIV prevalence
HIV positivity rate
title Provision of HIV testing services and its impact on the HIV positivity rate in the public health sector in KwaZulu-Natal: a ten-year review
title_full Provision of HIV testing services and its impact on the HIV positivity rate in the public health sector in KwaZulu-Natal: a ten-year review
title_fullStr Provision of HIV testing services and its impact on the HIV positivity rate in the public health sector in KwaZulu-Natal: a ten-year review
title_full_unstemmed Provision of HIV testing services and its impact on the HIV positivity rate in the public health sector in KwaZulu-Natal: a ten-year review
title_short Provision of HIV testing services and its impact on the HIV positivity rate in the public health sector in KwaZulu-Natal: a ten-year review
title_sort provision of hiv testing services and its impact on the hiv positivity rate in the public health sector in kwazulu natal a ten year review
topic HIV testing
HIV testing services
HIV programme
HIV prevention
HIV prevalence
HIV positivity rate
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17290376.2024.2318797
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