The 2007 Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey (KAIS) released on Tuesday shows majority of the Kenyans have not gone for HIV status, with many perceiving themselves as having a very low risk of being infected. 

A whopping 83 percent of those who participated in the study did not know their HIV status. Of these 57 percent had not tested for HIV, while 26 percent of those who claimed to be HIV negative, tested positive on being diagnosed. 

Generally, more than half of Kenyan women and 75 percent of the men, have not had an HIV test, says the study. Only 50 percent of urban residents and 30 percent of those in the rural areas know their HIV status. Testing is particularly low among older generation aged 50 to 64 years.

Also worrying is four in every five HIV positive Kenyans do know they are infected. These are the people who are spreading the disease unknowingly, considering themselves to be HIV negative or at very low risk of infection. 

It is a perception scientists now term as the biggest barrier to HIV testing. Initially, stigma was condemned as the biggest barrier, but with more awareness creation, this started changing.

The study shows at the moment, reasons for not going for HIV testing were varied. About 61 percent of the participants perceived themselves as having low risk of infection and hence no need to know their status. Another 16 percent did not want to know test results or were afraid another person would know their results if they are tested. 

About 14 percent were unsure about HIV test or where to get the service, while 5 percent blamed the long distance to testing centres as the reason for not knowing their HIV status.

The good news in the KAIS study is more Kenyans are going for HIV testing and agreeing to know their status. 

This number has increased from 13.7 per cent in 2003 to 35.6 per cent in 2007. Significant increase has been recorded among females from 13.1 percent in 2003 to 43.3 percent in 2007 compared to men’s rates of 14.3 percent in 2003 to 25.1 percent in 2007.

Encouraging thing is 93 percent of the 36 percent who had an HIV test, were willing to share their results and had accurate knowledge of their status. Likewise, 16 percent of the participants accurately reported knowledge of their HIV status. 

The other heartening news is majority of those who know their HIV are seeking and accessing treatment and getting good care from those close to them.

Over 75 percent of those infected were taking Cotrim (popularly known locally under the brand name septrin), a drug known to be very effective in managing and pre-empting opportunistic infections that attack HIV positive people. This increased access is an indication stigma about treatment and management of the disease seems to be reducing. 

However, the study found that 250,000 adults who are eligible for the ARVs were not accessing them, while the same fate was facing close to 1.2 million HIV positive adults who are in dire need of cotrimoxazole or cotrim drugs.

This article was also published  in the Nation on  July 30th 2008 (http://www.nation.co.ke)