TAILORED SERVICES FOR PRIORITY POPULATIONS. To achieve maximum impact, it is important that the delivery mechanisms and implementation arrangements used are specifically designed for the population group you intend to reach. HIVST has the potential to increase HIV testing coverage and frequency of testing among groups that are currently unreached. Based on situational and gap analyses, it should be clear which population groups could potentially benefit from HIVST. The list below outlines the priority populations for whom we have evidence that HIVST can improve HIV testing coverage and consequently linkage into care, treatment and prevention. There may be other groups of populations dependent on country context and specific testing and ART gap. Men: HIV-testing coverage and knowledge of HIV status among men living with HIV is substantially lower than among women worldwide. Differences in knowledge of HIV status stem from near-universal provision of HTS at health facilities which women are more likely to frequent.34 Men have lower rates of healthcare utilization in general, which reduce their opportunities to test for HIV through routine services.35 Furthermore, masculine norms promoting physical strength, economic role as breadwinner, and sexual primacy can lead men to underestimate HIV risk, disregard symptoms of illness or stigmatize use of HIV services.36, 37, 38, 39 Studies have shown that HIVST is beneficial in increasing testing among men. Adolescents and young people (aged 15–24 years): Approximately one-third of new HIV infections in the world occur among young people in Southern Africa. Young KPs are especially vulnerable and affected by HIV. These most-affected groups of young people have remained largely unreached by traditional HTS. For adolescents and young adults, their status as dependents can limit their ability to consent or pay for HIV services or generate fears of social and economic marginalization from families.40, 41 Concerns around implicit revelation of sexual debut and stigma and discrimination from health care providers can also limit uptake42 HIVST offered through community or peer support is considered highly acceptable and when offered has reached a large proportion of young people. Couples and partners, including partners of people with HIV: Couples and partner HIV testing, including index testing and assisted partner notification, with a view to reaching the sexual and drug injecting partners of people with HIV, is highly beneficial but under-implemented. Partner tes...
