Resource Library

HIV Testing by Private Health Providers: Evidence from 18 Countries

While numerous studies have examined the role of the public health sector in providing HIV counseling and testing, less known about the role played by private providers. This fact sheet summarizes research conducted by Doug Johnson and Xi Cheng, which analyzed the role of private commercial health providers in HIV testing in 18 countries. The key findings are: 

• Use of the private sector for HIV testing varies widely across countries
• A greater proportion of men use the private sector for HIV testing than women in most countries
• Countries with high use of the private sector among women for HIV testing tend to have high use of the private sector for other health services
• The wealthy are more likely to use the private sector for HIV testing, but in most countries, the private sector is used by all socioeconomic groups
• Private providers and public providers perform similarly with respect to reported adherence to antenatal care testing guidelines

This study reveals that the private sector is an important player in providing HIV testing and the magnitude of its role varies widely by country.