Acceptance of Index Case HIV Testing and Associated Factors Among ART Patients in ART Sites in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2025

Globally, HIV continues to be one of the biggest public health concerns, affecting nearly 38 million people, of whom over 16% are unaware of their status. More than two-thirds of people living with HIV are found in the Sub-Saharan Africa. Index cases HIV testing is a good approach for addressing and improving the efficiency and yield of testing among high-risk populations. Partners and families of people living with HIV are among the high-risk populations for contracting HIV. However, there is a limited study on index-case HIV testing among ART patients attending ART sites. The objective of this study was o assess the acceptance of index case HIV testing and associated factors among ART patients in ART sites in Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2024/5. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 10 December, 2024 to 15 January, 2025 among ART patients in ART sites in Gedeo zone. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and observational checklist. A simple random sampling technique was used to select four public health facilities. The study participants were chosen through systematic random sampling. Exit interviews were conducted by trained data collectors. Data were entered into EPI Data 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to analyze the data. The magnitude of the acceptance of the index case testing among ART patients was 198 (65.6%), (95% CI, 65.12- 66.07). The acceptance of index case testing was significantly associated with several factors: residence (AOR=2.80; 95% CI: 1.62 - 4.83), disclosure of HIV status (AOR=3.27; 95% CI: 1.79-5.96), and possessing good knowledge (AOR=1.85; 95% CI: 1.02-3.37).