The importance of cross-talk in research and the body: An early career researcher perspective.

South African males are less likely than their female counterparts to know their HIV status, to test for HIV (85% versus 92%, respectively), to initiate antiretroviral treatment (ART) (67% versus 72%, respectively), and to reach viral suppression (82% versus 90%, respectively). Although the country’s ART scale-up since 2004 is associated with an increase in population life expectancy in South Africa, these disparities lead to a lower comparative survival prior to and while on treatment for males. To address this gap and to reach the UNAIDS target to test 95% of people living with HIV (PLHIV), men from settings with a high disease burden require tailored demand-creation messaging and services to improve their HIV testing uptake and continuation to viral suppression. While men are willing to engage with HIV services, there are a number of barriers preventing their access to conventional, facility-based HIV services, including that care is largely focused on women, generic information is often targeted toward women, long commutes, long waiting times, and a lack of confidentiality. Additionally, there is the potential for distress and stigma resulting from an HIV-positive diagnosis, which can cause men to avoid HIV testing services. A review conducted in sub-Saharan Africa found that men were more likely to attend community-based testing venues, such as mobile clinics and workplace services, and more likely to rate these services as acceptable because of their desirable characteristics. These characteristics included convenience and efficiency when compared with conventional clinic facilities. The evidence of high acceptability and increased yield of men testing positive for HIV when compared with conventional facilities suggests that community-based HIV services are effective at identifying men in high disease burden communities who have been missed by conventional services.