Abstract:
Background: Family testing is an index case finding strategy through which HIV- infected patients are systematically screened to identify their family members with unknown HIV status in order to link them to care before they become symptomatic.
Objective: To identify determinants of HIV index case testing among ART follow-up clients in selected public health facilities in Ambo town, Oromia, Ethiopia.
Methods: The standardized data collection tool was developed through reviewing related literature containing information on socio-demographic, ART and health status, partner and Service and provider related factors. Institution based case control study was conducted among 355 study participants from December 30, 2022 to February 30, 2023 using Systematic random sampling method was used to identify tested and untested families of index clients. Pretest study was also conducted by taking 5% of total sample size in Guder Health center. Bi variable and multi variable logistic regression analyses were conducted to measure association. Variables with p- value less than 0.25 in bivariate logistic regressions were transferred to multivariate logistic regression model. AOR with 95% Confidence interval was calculated and P-value of ≤0.05 is used to declare statistical significance association between the independent and dependent variables.
Result: In this study 355 clients (177 case and 178) controls were selected giving 93.5 response rate. HIV test initiated by health care provider was 49.6% (AOR = 0.514,95 % CI: 0.318-0.829), family discussed about HIV /AIDS 3.07 (AOR =3.078, 95%CI: 1.868-5.045), Participants those reported no fear about stigma 2.17 (AOR=2.17, 95%CI: 1.353-3.511) and good adherence to ART drug were 2.198 (AOR=2.198, 95%CI: 1.335-3.619) were factors significantly associated with index case testing.
Conclusion and Recommendation: This study revealed that absence of fear of stigma, a providers initiated counseling and testing, family discussion about HIV infection and ART drug adherence were determinant factors for index case testing. Health professionals should advise index cases not to fear stigma, to adhere to ART drugs, to discuss about HIV with their family and screen target clients through PICT.
