title: Heterogeneous HIV testing preferences in an urban setting in Tanzania: results from a discrete choice experiment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Efforts to reduce Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission through treatment rely on HIV testing programs that are acceptable to broad populations. Yet, testing preferences among diverse at-risk populations in Sub-Saharan Africa are poorly understood. We fielded a population-based discrete choice experiment (DCE) to evaluate factors that influence HIV-testing preferences in a low-resource setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using formative work, a pilot study, and pretesting, we developed a DCE survey with five attributes: distance to testing, confidentiality, testing days (weekday vs. weekend), method for obtaining the sample for testing (blood from finger or arm, oral swab), and availability of HIV medications at the testing site. Cluster-randomization and Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) sampling methodology were used to enroll 486 community members, ages 18-49, in an urban setting in Northern Tanzania. Interviewer-assisted DCEs, presented to participants on iPads, were administered between September 2012 and February 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly three of five males (58%) and 85% of females had previously tested for HIV; 20% of males and 37% of females had tested within the past year. In gender-specific mixed logit analyses, distance to testing was the most important attribute to respondents, followed by confidentiality and the method for obtaining the sample for the HIV test. Both unconditional assessments of preferences for each attribute and mixed logit analyses of DCE choice patterns suggest significant preference heterogeneity among participants. Preferences differed between males and females, between those who had previously tested for HIV and those who had never tested, and between those who tested in the past year and those who tested more than a year ago.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest potentially significant benefits from tailoring HIV testing interventions to match the preferences of specific populations, including males and females and those who have never tested for HIV.
authors.affiliation: Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America; Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ostermann
authors.affiliation: Community Health Department, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Moshi, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Njau
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America; Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Derek S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America; Stiftungsinstitut Gesundheitsökonomie und Medizinmanagement, Hochschule Neubrandenburg, Neubrandenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mühlbacher
authors.affiliation: Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America; School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thielman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D035041:Anonymous Testing; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018907:Privacy / Q000523:psychology; D013636:Tanzania; D014505:Urban Population