Promoting HIV self-testing via text message to truck drivers in Kenya

Truck drivers in sub-Saharan Africa are especially vulnerable to infection with HIV due to contact with multiple sexual partners—often including sex workers—along their trucking routes. Accessing HIV testing can be a challenge for truckers due to their mobility and long working hours, as well as concerns about confidentiality and stigma. CUNY SPH researchers Dr. Elizabeth Kelvin, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and DPH candidate Matthew Romo are exploring HIV self-testing as a way to increase testing rates in this high-risk population.

The researchers led a randomized controlled trial that assessed whether alerting truckers via text message about the availability of HIV self-testing at clinics located at major transit hubs in Kenya would increase HIV testing rates. The results were published in the journal BMC Public Health.

The study found that, among truckers who were not accessing HIV testing regularly, receiving text messages about the availability of HIV self-testing in these clinics significantly increased HIV testing rates compared to receipt of text messages about the availability of HIV testing In general (not self-testing). However, HIV testing rates remained low even among those in the intervention. Making HIV self-testing kits available at clinics is only a partial solution to increasing testing rates in this hard-to-reach population, Kelvin says.

“To reach more truck drivers we may need to bring HIV self-testing kits to them at the truck stops,” she continues. “Text messaging could also be used to alert people about that kind of an outreach program to increase uptake.”

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