Table 2.

Age of consent to HTS policies in sub-Saharan Africa

National policies reviewed (n=49) (categories not mutually exclusive)	No. of countries (%)
Policy existing for HTS, age of consent clearly defined (including no age limit)	30 (61.2%)
Policy existing for HTS but no age of consent specified*	8 (16.3%)
Total number of countries with policies discussing age of consent to HTS	38 (77.6%)
Policy existing for HTS but no mention of ‘adolescent’ or ‘minor’	1 (2.0%)
No policy for HTS	10 (20.4%)
Total number of countries either without HTS policies or that have policies that do not mention adolescents or minors	11 (22.4%)
National age of consent to HTS (n=38) The year following the country indicates the year of publication for national policy.	No. of countries (%)
Age of minor not defined Angola, 201534; Burundi, 201435; Cameroon, 201536; Cape Verde, 200537; Chad, 201138; the Comoros, 200739; DRC, 201740; Guinea, 201841; Nigeria, 201642; Sudan, 201643	10 (26.3%)
No age limit—all or most adolescents eligible† Botswana, 201644	1 (2.6%)
12 years Lesotho, 201645; Mozambique, 201546; Rwanda, 201647; South Africa, 201648; Eswatini, 201849; Uganda, 201650	6 (15.8%)
13 years The Gambia, 201451; Malawi, 201652	2 (5.3%)
14 years Liberia, 201553; Namibia, 201654	2 (5.3%)
15 years Ethiopia, 201755; Kenya, 201556; Senegal, 201757; Somalia, 201758; United Republic of Tanzania, 201959	5 (13.2%)
16 years Côte d'Ivoire, 201960; Ghana, 201761; Zambia, 201662; Zimbabwe, 201463	4 (10.5%)
18 years Benin, 201764; Burkina Faso, 200865; Central African Republic, 201066; Eritrea, 201967; Madagascar, 201168; Mali, 201769; Sierra Leone, 201770; South Sudan, 201771	8 (21.1%)

*These countries used the term ‘minor’ in their guidance, but do not specify an age.

†These countries stipulate considerations other than age to allow access to HTS (eg, shows maturity; of reproductive age; or married, pregnant or engaged in behaviour that would put them at risk).

DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo; HTS, HIV testing services.