Conference Abstract | Volume 9, Abstract 039 (ConfProc7) | Published: 04 May 2026
Baba Amadu1,&, Vincent Gmayinaam1, Gideon Kyei-Duodu1, Margaret Kweku Abena1
1Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Fred Newton Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31 Ho, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Amadu Baba. Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Fred Newton Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana, Email: bamadu22pg@sph.uhas.edu.gh
Received: 26 Aug 2025, Accepted: 28 Oct 2025, Published: 04 May 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: HIV self-testing, pregnant women, male partners, uptake, acceptability
©Baba Amadu et al Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Baba Amadu et al. Acceptability and uptake of oral HIV self-testing among partners of pregnant Women in the Bongo District, Ghana. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfProc7):039. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO7-0039
HIV remains a major public health challenge, with Sub-Saharan Africa disproportionately affected. In Ghana, where adult prevalence is 1.7%, many remain unaware of their HIV status, delaying treatment and fueling transmission. Oral HIV self-testing (HIV-ST) offers a private, convenient option, particularly for hard-to-reach groups such as male partners of pregnant women. The study assessed the acceptability, uptake, and determinants of oral HIV self-testing among partners of pregnant women in Bongo District.
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2025 among pregnant women in Bongo district. Simple random sampling technique selected 320 participants. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographics, HIV knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to distributing HIV-ST kits to their partners. Descriptive statistics were computed, and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of HIV testing
Of 320 pregnant women given kits, 229 (71.6%) of their partners accepted them; 186 (58.1%) used them. Prior awareness of HIV-ST significantly increased uptake [AOR = 0.27, CI: 0.08–0.84]. Belief in HIV-ST effectiveness strongly influenced use [AOR = 4.51, CI: 1.44–14.08], while partners unlikely to use HIV-ST were less likely to self-test [AOR = 0.07, CI: 0.02–0.28]. Barriers included fear of positive results, stigma, disinterest, and misconceptions.
Partners acceptance is key for HIV testing uptake, gaps remain, particularly among less-educated and stigmatized groups. Interventions to improve HIV knowledge, reduce stigma, and encourage partner engagement is essential. Targeted education, partner engagement, and post-test counseling are essential for improving uptake and linkage to care.
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