Table 1.
Characteristics of the trials eligible for inclusion.
| First author, publication year | Country and setting | Study period | Study design | Study objectives | Study population | Recruitment | Sample size | Intervention or policy | Comparison group |
| Invitations for ANC-based HTC provided through pregnant women | |||||||||
| Mohlala, 2011 [20] | South Africa, urban ANC clinic | Nov 2006–Dec 2007 | RCT | To compare women's acceptance of written invitations for VCT and pregnancy information sessions (PIS) for male sexual partner (MSP) and uptake of VCT by MSP | Pregnant women at <30 weeks gestation and their MSP | Consecutive women attending ANC without MSP; MSP recruited through women | 1000 pregnant women; 500 intervention 500 in control | Written invitation for MSP to attend ANC the for VCT along with community sensitisation 9 months before the intervention during follow-up and recruitment. | Written invitation for MSP to attend PIS and offered VCT 12 weeks after the initial visit |
| Byamugisha, 2011 [21] | Uganda, ANC at a referral hospital | Oct 2009–Feb 2010 | RCT | To evaluate the effect of an invitation letter on couples attendance to ANC and VCT uptake by MSP within a 4-week follow-up period | Pregnant women (≥15 years) attending their first ANC visit and their MSP | Women attending ANC without MSP who were willing to return within 4 weeks identified at reception and approached by research assistant; MSP recruited through women | 1060 pregnant women; 530 intervention 530 control | Invitation letter addressed to MSP to attend subsequent ANC visit | A leaflet containing information on the services available at the ANC |
| Orne-Gliemann, 2013 [19] | Cameroon, urban health centre | 26 Feb–15 Oct 2009 | RCT | To determine the impact of couple-oriented post-test counselling (COC) on partner HIV-testing | Pregnant women aged ≥15 years attending their first prenatal visit who agreed to 6 months of follow-up and their male partners | Women who were interested in participating and were eligible asked for written informed consent; male partners identified through women | 484 women; 239 intervention arm 245 control arm | COC: develops women's communication skills and self-efficacy; empowering women and encouraging HTC-related discussion with partners | Standard post-test counselling |
| Invitations for community-based HTC provided through pregnant women | |||||||||
| Ditekemena, 2011 [22] | DRC, urban NHC, bar and church | 1 Sept 2006–31 Jan 2007 | RCT | To identify alternative strategies to increase participation in VCT by men whose pregnant female partner received HIV-testing | Male partners of pregnant women (≥18 years) who received VCT at ANC in maternity hospital | All women attending an ANC centre were provided information about the study and asked for consent | 2706 pregnant women; 906 church arm, 891 bar arm, 909 NHC arm | Written invitation to attend VCT at a church or in a bar | Invitation to attend VCT in a neighbourhood health centre |
| Partner notification to invite individuals for HTC in health facilities | |||||||||
| Brown, 2011 [23] | Malawi, STI clinics in two urban hospitals | Oct 2008–Sept 2009 | RCT | To determine the effectiveness of different methods of partner notification on notification rates and partner HTC uptake | Partners of STI clinic patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection | Selection of hospitals not reported. All patients (aged ≥18 years) testing positive for first time and sexually active within last 90 days invited to participate | Provider referral: 48 female index patients 52 male partners Contract referral: 46 female index patients 50 male partners Passive referral: 46 female index patients 48 male partners | Provider: newly diagnosed patients given 48 h before provider initiated partner contact Contract: newly diagnosed patients given 7 days to notify partners of their status | Passive referral to notify sexual partners and refer for HTC |
| Reaching men attending health facilities | |||||||||
| Simbayi, 2004 [15] | South Africa, STI clinic | Aug–Nov 2003 | RCT | To test the efficacy of a brief theory-based HIV prevention counselling intervention for STI patients | Repeat STI patients | Repeat STI patients being treated for multiple STIs referred by nurse or physician | 228 recruited; 151 (66%) male. 114 motivational/skills counselling 114 information, education | 60 min theory-based information-motivation-behavioural skills risk reduction counselling to change knowledge, attitudes and behaviours and increase self-efficacy | 20 min information and education session |
| Pope, 2008 [25] | South Africa, 20 primary care TB clinics | 12 Aug–10 Nov 2005 | CRT | To determine whether opt-out PITC increases the proportion of TB patients HIV-tested | Newly registered TB patients (≥18 years) who remained in care for ≥14 days | Clinics selected from 44 PHCs based on presence of TB nurse and min of 3 newly registered TB patients per month | 10 intervention and 10 control clinics; 194 males intervention 238 males control | PITC, including training for nurses on the offer of HTC | Opt-in HIV testing |
| Wanyenze, 2011 [24] | Uganda, urban hospital | 2004–2005 | RCT | To compare the impact of inpatient HTC on HTC uptake, linkage to care and survival among inpatients compared with referral for VCT | Medical inpatients aged ≥18 years with unknown HIV status, residing within 20 km of hospital | Participants identified in consultation with medical teams; potential participants randomly selected from list of hospitalized patients | 500 inpatients 109 males intervention 96 males control | PITC with next day results | Referral for HTC at the hospital 1 week after discharge |
| Reaching men in community settings | |||||||||
| Corbett, 2006 [31] | Zimbabwe, 22 urban businesses | 2 years follow-up/site; last site completed July 2004 | CRT | To estimate the impact of on-site HTC on HTC uptake compared with referral to off-site VCT | Employees expected to remain employed for at least 3 months | Businesses identified with an HIV Prevention Project. Eligible if they had: 100–600 employees; a first aid clinic; individual based absenteeism records | 11 businesses and 2981 males intervention arm 11 businesses and 2474 males control arm | Counselling and on-site rapid HIV testing | Counselling and vouchers for off-site VCT at standalone centre. Two week appointment to discuss results |
| Burnett, 2011 [30] | Swaziland, secondary school | 2006–2007 | RCT | To evaluate the effect of an HIV education intervention on HIV-related behaviours including HIV-testing | Secondary students in form 2 (grade 9) or form 4 (grade 11) | All students eligible, 204 enrolled on a first-come first-served basis | 93 students intervention group 84 control group Data provided for 115 male students aged ≥15 years with complete outcome data postintervention | A 13-week life skills-based HIV education programmes to increase HIV knowledge, change attitudes and behaviours. Mobile HTC available at one session | No education programme (delayed intervention) |
| Sweat, 2011 [18] | Tanzania, 10 rural communities Zimbabwe, eight rural communities | Mar 2006–Apr 2009 Jan 2006–July 2009 | CRT | To examine whether mobile testing in combination with community mobilisation and post-test support increases HTC uptake compared with standard VCT | Adult populations (16–32 years) residing in selected communities | Ethnographic mapping used to select community pairs matched on access to health services, economic activity, population density, civic organization | Tanzania: 6250 individuals in intervention and 6733 in control communities Zimbabwe: 10 700 individuals intervention, 12 150 control communities | Community-based HTC service delivery combined with community mobilisation and availability of post-test support | Standard clinic-based VCT |
| Lugada, 2010 [26] | Uganda, 44 clusters defined by geographical area in five districts | Feb 2005–Feb 2007 | CRT | To compare HTC uptake among household members of index ART-patient offered home-based HTC to uptake among those offered vouchers for VCT | Household members of index ART-patients (results presented for males aged ≥15 years) | Cluster selection not defined. Index Patients aged ≥18 years recruited from an ART clinic | 22 clusters intervention and 22 control arm: 947 male household members ≥15 years intervention 484 males household members ≥15 years control arm | Home-based HTC provided to household members of index ART-patients | Vouchers for free VCT given to index ART-patients to provide to household members |
| Doherty, 2013 [27] | South Africa, geographically similar rural clusters | Intervention: Sept 2009–Nov 2010 Survey: Feb –May 2011 | CRT | To determine the effectiveness of home-based HTC compared with facility based testing | Household members aged 18 years and older; 14–17-year-olds also eligible with guardian/parental consent | Geographical clusters randomized, all households in intervention clusters targeted | 16 clusters; 8 intervention clusters, 484 men surveyed postintervention 8 control clusters, 578 men surveyed after intervention | HBHTC with extensive community mobilization | Standard of care: HTC services at local clinics and NGO outreach teams. Mobile HTC was implemented halfway through the study |
| Fylkesnes, 2013 [29] | Zambia, rural villages | Intervention: March–May 2010 survey: Nov 2010–Jan 2011 | CRT | To evaluate the acceptance of HBHTC compared with standard HTC services | Household members aged 18 years or older | Villages randomized, all households visited | 36 clusters; 18 intervention clusters, 255 men surveyed postintervention 18 control clusters, 261 men surveyed postintervention | HBHTC with community mobilisation, radio spots and drama | Standard of care: VCT in health facilities and outreach by NGOs |
| Low, 2013 [28] | Kenya, administrative regions | Intervention: 2009 Survey: 2011 | CRT | To evaluate the effects of HBHTC on HIV testing compared with no HBHTC | All households in intervention and control regions | Administrative regions randomized, randomly selected households surveyed | 18 clusters; 9 intervention clusters, 626 men ≥15 years surveyed; 9 control clusters, 655 men ≥15 years surveyed | HBHTC | No offer of HBHTC |
ANC, antenatal care; ART, antiretroviral therapy; COC, couple-oriented counselling; CRT, cluster randomized trial; DRC, Democratic; HBHTC; home-based HTC, Republic of Congo; M, moderate; MSP, male sexual partner; NGO; non-government organisation; NHC, neighbourhood health centre; PHC, primary healthcare; PIS, pregnancy information sessions; PITC, provider-initiated HIV-testing and counselling; QA, quality; RCT, randomized controlled trial; S, strong; VCT, voluntary counselling and testing.