From Policy to Practice: The implementation and scaling of HIV Self-Screening amongst Adolescents and for client on Oral PrEP in South Africa
1
Health: South Africa, Ministry of Health South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1682
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
From Policy to Practice: The implementation and scaling of HIV Self-Screening amongst Adolescents and for client on Oral PrEP in SA. Authors: Maomela, T 1 Chidarike, T 2 Marsh, A 1 Affiliations: 1The National Department of Health, World Health Organization 2
BACKGROUND:
HIV Self Screening (HIVSS) is testing modalities that the National Department of Health (NDoH) adopted after the STAR project. The commodities are currently being funded through domestic funding and support from Global Fund. The country recently updated the HIV Testing Services (HTS) policy, expanding the modality to all eligible clients aged 12 -17 years for directly assisted within healthcare facilities. The modality was also integrated into the PrEP program. These changes aimed to increase testing coverage among adolescents aged 12 -17 years who can provide consent and to high-risk populations who have successfully completed their oral PrEP for more than 4 months.
AIM:
Implementing this was also aimed at reducing the number of visits to the healthcare facilities amongst clients who were on PrEP and scaling the modality to adolescents aged 12 -17 years.
METHODS:
We reviewed retrospective data on the number of HIVSS test kits that were distributed from April 2024 – October 2025. These HIVSS test kits were distributed across the public health facilities, community distribution points, and PrEP service sites. Performance was benchmarked against the national targets
RESULTS:
The annual national HIVSS target is 333 333 across the country. These targets were set based on the various aspects and the performance is reviewed annually from April to November 2025. The current data indicated that the current performance is at 90%.
CONCLUSIONS:
HIVSS implementation for adolescents and PrEP users has demonstrated feasibility and acceptability, with a performance of 90 % which includes usage and distribution to both adolescents and clients who are on PrEP.
From Policy to Practice: The implementation and scaling of HIV Self-Screening amongst Adolescents and for client on Oral PrEP in SA. Authors: Maomela, T 1 Chidarike, T 2 Marsh, A 1 Affiliations: 1The National Department of Health, World Health Organization 2
BACKGROUND:
HIV Self Screening (HIVSS) is testing modalities that the National Department of Health (NDoH) adopted after the STAR project. The commodities are currently being funded through domestic funding and support from Global Fund. The country recently updated the HIV Testing Services (HTS) policy, expanding the modality to all eligible clients aged 12 -17 years for directly assisted within healthcare facilities. The modality was also integrated into the PrEP program. These changes aimed to increase testing coverage among adolescents aged 12 -17 years who can provide consent and to high-risk populations who have successfully completed their oral PrEP for more than 4 months.
AIM:
Implementing this was also aimed at reducing the number of visits to the healthcare facilities amongst clients who were on PrEP and scaling the modality to adolescents aged 12 -17 years.
METHODS:
We reviewed retrospective data on the number of HIVSS test kits that were distributed from April 2024 – October 2025. These HIVSS test kits were distributed across the public health facilities, community distribution points, and PrEP service sites. Performance was benchmarked against the national targets
RESULTS:
The annual national HIVSS target is 333 333 across the country. These targets were set based on the various aspects and the performance is reviewed annually from April to November 2025. The current data indicated that the current performance is at 90%.
CONCLUSIONS:
HIVSS implementation for adolescents and PrEP users has demonstrated feasibility and acceptability, with a performance of 90 % which includes usage and distribution to both adolescents and clients who are on PrEP.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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