Frequently Asked Questions

KENPHIA II will cover all 47 counties, focusing on six counties where HIV prevalence exceeds 7%, enabling detailed estimates of HIV Prevalence and Viral Load Suppression at the county level.

The Kenya Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (KENPHIA II) is a cross-sectional household-based, nationally representative survey which will estimate the prevalence of key human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related health indicators such as HIV incidence, prevalence and viral load suppression, and characterize HIV related risk behaviors. It will also assess the coverage and impact of HIV services at population level. KENPHIA II Survey will help us know how many people in Kenya have HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and need health services. We expect about 46,000 men, women, and children older than 6 weeks from around 18,650 households throughout Kenya to take part in the study. If you take part, you can help the Ministry of Health improve HIV services in Kenya.

KEPHIA II is conducted through government’s Ministry of Health, with technical assistance from of Ciheb-Kenya and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Data from KENPHIA II provides an in-depth understanding of how many people are currently infected with HIV (HIV prevalence), how many people have new infections (HIV incidence), and how many people with HIV are on effective treatment (HIV viral load suppression) in each country. This time we will also seek to understand how many people may have Hepatitis B. This provides government leaders, medical professionals, civil society organizations and researchers with a valuable guide to decision-making on HIV and Hepatitis B policy, programs and funding, leading to better health, stronger families, and more prosperous nations.

The survey will reach a nationally representative sample of households in Kenya. It will target approximately 18,650 randomly selected households. Approximately 46,000 men, women and adolescents, 15 years and older, young adolescent ages 10-14 years and children 0-9 years in these households will be invited to participate in the survey. Some selected households may have people living with HIV, but other selected households may not include any people living with HIV.

Before the interview begins, you will be given information that fully describes the survey. Before starting, survey teams will obtain permission (consent) for participants 18 years and older. Adolescents aged 15-17 years will be asked for their assent and for their parent or guardian’s permission. Emancipated minors, who are adolescents aged 15-17, the parent of a child, or who have left home and are self-sufficient, will give consent similar to adults aged 18 and older.

Computer tablets will be used to collect information via face-to-face interviews. Household heads will be asked questions about the people living in the house. After the household interview, there will be individual interviews with eligible household members. Individuals will be asked questions about age, the kind of work they do, their experience with HIV services, and their personal behaviors.

Blood samples will be taken from the arm to perform HIV testing for all eligible participants in the house. These test results will be returned to the participant on the same day. Those who test positive for HIV will be referred to the health facility for care and treatment.

Blood samples will also be sent to a laboratory to conduct further tests such as CD4 count and viral load for the participants who tested HIV-positive. Results for tests done in the laboratory will be sent to the health facility of the participant’s choice within about 12 weeks (about 3 months).

There is no cost for your participation in the survey.

Your participation is completely voluntary. However, it is important for you to know your HIV status in order to initiate treatment early if you are HIV positive. Medicines are available in health facilities.

Your participation will contribute to improving health systems, policies and programs to address the HIV epidemic in Kenya. This survey also provides an opportunity to receive free and voluntary HIV testing in the privacy of your home. It is important to get tested and know your status. If you do test positive, receiving life-saving antiretroviral treatment as early as possible will help you live a long and healthy life. In addition, those who test negative will get referrals and active linkage to HIV-related services. Your participation will also provide the Ministry of Health with valuable information on how effective HIV policies and programs are in your community and will inform national-level advancements.

Yes, survey staff are specially trained to protect your confidentiality. You may choose the location in or near your home where you would like to speak with survey staff. You may also choose to skip any questions or stop the survey at any time.

You will be given a unique identification number, but your name will be kept separate from your answers to the questions. Only those managing the survey will have access to the information gathered during data collection.

If your test result is positive, survey staff will share your test results with a health facility of your choice, with your consent, for linkage to care purposes.

You will receive your HIV test results the same day you are tested. It will be provided to you by our trained staff. If you test positive, you will be provided with a referral form for a health facility of your choice to learn more about your status and overall health. You will also be able to receive your CD4 count and viral load results at the health facility you choose within about 12 weeks after your test.

After HIV testing is conducted in your home, blood samples will then be taken to a central lab for further testing. The blood sample will only be used for laboratory tests to understand the state of the HIV epidemic in Kenya. If you agree in the consent form, your blood may also be stored and used for future tests to better understand health issues in your country. All samples will be handled according to Ministry of Health approved standards.

Getting tested is the pathway to treatment or prevention of HIV. If you test positive, it allows you to immediately seek treatment to live a long and healthy life. You will also learn about prevention methods, such as prevention of partner transmission or prevention of mother-to-child-transmission. If you test negative, this result opens the door to access HIV prevention options in your health facility. In either case, getting tested allows you to make empowered choices about your health.

You cannot tell by simply looking at someone whether they are living with HIV. Most people living with HIV today do not appear sick. Only an HIV test can correctly identify if someone has the virus or not.

Several different types of medications exist to treat and manage HIV infection. For those living with HIV, there is antiretroviral treatment (ART). For those who are HIV negative and may feel at risk of contracting HIV, there is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). There are also preventative measures that can be taken to stay HIV-free, such as condom usage, medical circumcision for males, and more. For more information, please visit your nearest health facility.