Uptake of HIV testing among aging adults in Agincourt, South Africa: perception of community, social network, and individual characteristics

• Published in: African journal of AIDS research : AJAR Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 23 - 31
• Main Authors: Moore, Ami R, Ta, Anh, Lawson, Megan, Amey, Foster
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa Taylor & Francis 01.03.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aging; Attachment; Community; community factors; Cross-Sectional Studies; Employment; Friendship; HIV; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV test; HIV Testing; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Leadership; Longitudinal Studies; Medical tests; Older people; Perception; Rural Population; Sexual behavior; Social Networking; Social networks; South Africa; South Africa - epidemiology; Tests; Uptake; Voluntary; South Africa; HIV test; South Africa; community factors; social networks
• ISSN: 1608-5906; 1727-9445
• DOI: 10.2989/16085906.2022.2034656

This cross-sectional study examined the impact of perception of community, social network and individual variables on the likelihood of voluntary HIV testing of people 40 years and older living in Agincourt, South Africa. The data came from Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in SA (HAALSI) Cohort from Agincourt. We applied three logistic regression models. Results showed that voluntary uptake of HIV testing was significantly associated with two network factors, namely friendships within the network and frequency of fighting in the network. At the community level, attachment to place was significantly associated with voluntary testing, while at the individual level, education, sexual behaviour, employment and age were significantly associated with the voluntary uptake of HIV testing. The implications of these findings are that age-appropriate interventions must be devised to sensitise older people in Agincourt about HIV risks. Also, leadership at the community level and in social networks must encourage members to consider voluntary testing for their own and community interests.