Awareness and use of HIV self-testing kits among men in Kenya: an analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey

HIV self-testing (HIVST) has emerged as a novel strategy to address gaps in HIV testing by providing a private and accessible method for HIV diagnosis. Using the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) data, comprising 14,402 men selected by a two-stage stratified sampling, this study assessed the factors associated with awareness and use of HIV self-testing kits. We found that although 61.5% of men were aware of HIVST kits, only 9% had ever used them. Multivariable logistic regression in SPSS (version 29) indicated that urban residency (AOR: 2.46 (95%CI: 1.32–4.58), being sexually active (AOR: 2.06 (95%CI: 1.23–3.44), justified refusal of sex by wives if their husbands had other women (AOR: 1.29 (95%CI: 1.72–9.81), alcohol consumption (AOR: 3.36 (95%CI: 1.97–5.71), belonging to certain tribes (e.g., Kamba (AOR: 5.43 (95%CI: 1.28–23.04), and completing higher education (e.g., tertiary education (AOR: 5.65 (95%CI: 2.96–10.78) were associated with HIVST kit awareness. However, tobacco use was associated with lower odds of HIVST awareness(AOR: 0.44 (95%CI: 0.19–0.99). On the other hand, utilization of HIVST was significantly associated with being in higher wealth quintiles(e.g., richest (AOR; 6.47 (95%CI: 1.99–21.05), having 3–4 living children (AOR: 2.90 (95%CI: 1.54–5.47), living in certain regions (e.g., Nairobi (AOR: 3.77 (95%CI: 1.35–10.49), alcohol consumption (AOR: 3.36 (95%CI: 1.97–5.71), and completing higher education (e.g., tertiary (AOR:5.65 (95%CI: 2.96–10.78). The low HIVST utilization suggests a need for targeted, community-driven interventions, especially in rural and marginalized groups, scaling up of HIVST kits distribution through hybrid distribution models (E.g., pharmacy + peer + digital delivery), reducing their costs, and breaking cultural barriers.