The HIV prevalence rate among men who have sex with men (MSM) has increased rapidly in Vietnam over the last few years. In late March, USAID’s Sustainable HIV Response From Technical Assistance Project (SHIFT) activity partnered with Hanoi Medical University and Hanoi Preventive Medicine Center to launch postal delivery of HIV self-testing kits. Through social media, MSM are encouraged to complete online questionnaires to assess their risk of contracting HIV and at-risk MSM are informed about these home-delivered HIV self-testing kits. Within two months, 158 clients requested the kits via mail and 70% of them have reported their test results so far – a higher proportion than typically found from self-testing services. USAID and its partners have already helped those MSM that test positive confirm their HIV status and enroll in treatment.

So What? Confidential, home-delivered HIV self-testing increases the number of persons aware of their HIV status, which supports Vietnam’s efforts in achieving HIV epidemic control.