Feasibility of Scaling Up Home-Based HIV Counselling and Testing Among Women Delivering at Home: A Geita District Council Case, Tanzania

The research was conducted in collaboration with the Geita District Medical Officer, Geita local authority, and Geita School of Nursing and Midwifery. The study design involved a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. A total of 1,500 women who delivered within the past two years were selected for the study, with 800 participants recruited from health facilities and 700 from households. Data sources included participant interviews, health facility records, and household surveys. The study found that 22% of women had never been tested for HIV, while 45% had been tested but not in the past two years. The prevalence of HIV among women was 5.6%, with 12% of children under the age of 15 testing positive. Participants' knowledge of and attitudes towards prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) were generally positive, with 85% of women aware of the importance of HIV testing during pregnancy. However, barriers to home-based HIV counselling and testing (HBHCT) and PMTCT uptake among HIV-positive women delivering at home were identified, including lack of awareness, stigma, and limited access to healthcare services. The study concluded that scaling up HBHCT among women delivering at home in Geita District is feasible and could improve HIV testing rates and PMTCT outcomes. Recommendations included strengthening community-based HIV testing services, increasing awareness and education on PMTCT, and improving access to healthcare services for women delivering at home.