Funding Source: Integrated Support Programme through PSI Zimbabwe
Funding Period: February 2013 to November 2016
As part of the Integrated Support Programme, PSI Zimbabwe has integrated sexual and reproductive health services with HIV testing and care services. CeSHHAR is PSI’s operations research partner; and the following studies are being conducted as part of the program:
- Investigating barriers and facilitators to provision and uptake of long acting reversible contraception at PSI sites providing integrated services. In this study we will also determine the cost of integrated FP/HIV services in different service delivery settings from the perspectives of both the provider and clients.
- Investigating barriers and facilitators to provision and uptake of cervical cancer screening at PSI sites providing integrated services. In this study we will also determine the cost of integrated services from the perspectives of both the provider and clients.
- Non-monetary incentives to increase uptake of Couples HIV testing (CHTS).
CHTS, where couples test together with a counsellor and then develop a prevention and/or treatment strategy based on their joint status, is associated with a number of positive HIV prevention outcomes including increased condom use, reduction in sexual partners and increased use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent transmission of HIV to the uninfected partner.
Despite the clear recognition of the benefits of CHTS, its demand in Zimbabwe is low, especially in rural settings. CeSHHAR Zimbabwe in collaboration with PSI Zimbabwe and Ministry of Health and Child Care conducted a study to test the effectiveness of small, non-monetary incentives in increasing CHTC uptake in Chegutu, Goromonzi, Murewa and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) districts. We found that the offer of small non-monetary incentives was associated with a 13-fold increase in uptake of couples testing (https://youtu.be/NQhRW4mj26E).