Table 5.
Exceptions for HTS below age of consent
| Exceptions for testing below stated legal age of consent The age in parentheses indicates the national age of consent to HTS before the exception is applied |
No of countries |
|
Shows maturity and understanding of the process and potential results (healthcare provider discretion) Benin (18 years),64 Botswana (no age limit),44 Burkina Faso (18 years but ‘mature minor’ exception from 15 years),65 Ethiopia (15 years but ‘mature minor’ exception from 13 years),55 Ghana (16 years),61 Liberia (14 years),53 Malawi (13 years),53 Mozambique (12 years),46 Namibia (14 years),54 Sierra Leone (18 years),70 Somalia (15 years),58 South Africa (12 years),48 South Sudan (18 years),71 Zimbabwe (16 years)77 |
13 |
|
At risk of contracting HIV (eg, sexually active) Burkina Faso (18 years but ‘mature minor’ exception from 15 years),65 Liberia (14 years),53 Namibia (14 years),54 Sierra Leone (18 years),70 Somalia (15 years),58 Sudan (age of ‘minor’ not defined),43 United Republic of Tanzania (15 years),75 Zimbabwe (16 years)77 |
9 |
|
Symptomatic Benin (18 years),64 Liberia (14 years),53 Zimbabwe (16 years)77 |
3 |
|
Pregnant Benin (18 years),64 Botswana (no age limit),44 Burkina Faso (18 years, ‘mature minor’ exception from 15 years),65 Cameroon (age of minor not defined),36 Ghana (16 years),61 Liberia (14 years),53 Mozambique (12 years),46 Namibia (14 years),54 Rwanda (12 years),47 Sierra Leone (18 years),70 Somalia (15 years),58 South Sudan (18 years),71 United Republic of Tanzania (15 years),75 Zambia (16 years),62 Zimbabwe (16 years)63 |
15 |
|
Parent (adolescent is already a parent) Benin (18 years),64 Botswana (no age limit),44 Cameroon (age of minor not defined),36 Ghana (16 years),61 Mozambique (12 years),46 Namibia (14 years),54 Sierra Leone (18 years),70 Somalia (15 years),58 South Sudan (18 years),71 Zambia (16 years)62 |
10 |
|
Head of household Central African Republic (18 years),66 Liberia (14 years),53 Mozambique (12 years),46 Zambia (16 years)62 |
4 |
|
Married Benin (18 years),64 Botswana (no age limit),44 Burkina Faso (18 years, ‘mature minor’ exception from 15 years),65 Ghana (16 years),61 Liberia (14 years),53 Mozambique (12 years),46 Namibia (14 years),37 Sierra Leone (18 years),70 South Sudan (18 years),71 United Republic of Tanzania (15 years)59 75 Zambia (16 years)62 |
11 |
|
Sex workers Liberia (14 years),53 Rwanda (12 years),47 Sierra Leone (18 years),70 Somalia (15 years),58 South Sudan (18 years),71 Zambia (16 years)62 |
6 |
|
Street children Liberia (14 years)53 |
1 |
|
Emancipated minor Botswana (no age limit),44 Central African Republic (18 years),66 Kenya (15 years),56 Liberia (14 years),53 Madagascar (18 years),68 South Sudan (18 years)71 |
6 |