Age-of-consent requirements and adolescent HIV testing in low-and middle-income countries: Multinational insights from 51 population-based surveys
Document Type
Article (peer-reviewed)
Publication Date
12-16-2022
Abstract
Background: Pervasive social and structural barriers—including national policies—inhibit HIV testing uptake among priority populations, including adolescents. We assessed the relationship between age-of-consent policies for HIV testing and adolescent HIV testing coverage in 51 low- and middle-income countries. Methods: We pooled data from household surveys (2010–2020) and calculated the weighted country-level prevalence of lifetime HIV testing separately for adolescent girls and boys (ages 15–19). We then abstracted age-of-consent requirements for HIV testing across countries. Using multivariable linear regression, we estimated the average difference in national HIV testing coverage estimates for adolescent girls and boys by age-of-consent restrictions for HIV testing. Results: National HIV testing coverage estimates ranged from 0.7% to 72.5% among girls (median: 18.0%) and 0% to 73.2% among boys (median: 7.5%) in Pakistan and Lesotho, respectively. In adjusted models, HIV testing coverage in countries requiring parental consent for individualsConclusions: Age-of-consent policies are persistent obstacles to adolescent HIV testing. Repealing parental consent requirements for HIV testing is needed to expand coverage and accelerate progress towards global HIV treatment and prevention targets.
Recommended Citation
Rosen, Joseph G., Elizabeth M. Stone, and Michael Mbizvo. 2022. "Age-of-consent requirements and adolescent HIV testing in low-and middle-income countries: Multinational insights from 51 population-based surveys," International Journal of STD and AIDS, https://doi.org/10.1177/09564624221142372.
DOI
10.1177/09564624221142372
Language
English