Other screening approaches such as using general practise for pro-active and systematic screening have shown high testing rates in other studies [ 35, 36].
Although Norway is likely to have high testing rates on a European level [ 28, 29] we cannot conclude that this fully explains the relatively low uptake of testing in our study.
As one report advises [ 45], performance measures require attention to avoid defining high testing rates as good quality of care, since they may not take into consideration patient preferences for care options.
Malindi district had a notably higher testing rate than the other two regarding HIV tests through VCT.
In the QIP period, a higher testing rate was achieved in females; increasing from 13%to25%25 % (OR: 1.32, 95 % CI: 1.10-1.59).
Among females, the highest testing rate achieved in the QIP period was in 15 19 year olds, increasing from 16%% to 29%% (OR: 1.02, 95 % CI: 0.75-1.37).
The higher testing rate (over 50%) in the Department of Health Boots study may have been because more women actively requested screening kits [ 11].
Some of the explanation for the higher testing rate among women could be their more frequent interaction with health services, including antenatal care and PMTCT programmes [ 41, 42].
Consistently, previous studies indicated that marital status may be a confounding factor of age [ 26, 27], and the HIV higher testing rate among married MSM may be due to their more conservative perception of risk of HIV infection [ 28].
In addition, younger GPs also had a higher testing rate irrespective of the gender of the GP; GPs aged less than 30 years tested 6.5%9595% CI: 4.2%, 8.9%) while GPs aged 60 and over tested 2.3% (95% CI: 0.6%, 4.0%) of 16-29 year olds. 16-29 year olds
