Distribution at events
Events take place within the community and can bring services to large groups of people at once. Organizations can integrate HIV self-testing into their own events or offer it at events organized by other organizations. This can improve accessibility and inclusivity for diverse populations and provide a way to normalize HIV testing. Event distribution can bring self-test kits directly to the populations most affected by HIV and be a way to reach new audiences. The benefits of organizing your own events include the ability to specifically market to the audience you would like to reach and the ability to set the parameters (e.g., place, time) for the event. Distributing self-test kits through events organized by others can enable your organization to reach different populations. A potential challenge with events is that the ability to have detailed conversations with participants may be limited because of time and space constraints.
“Decentralize access to HIV testing” – Dialogue participant
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The following best-practice recommendations outline strategies to consider when developing or integrating approaches to distributing self-test kits at events.
Practice-based recommendations:
1. Consider facilitating the distribution of self-test kits at events hosted by other organizations that reach the communities most affected by HIV (e.g., Pride events).
2. Educate event organizers to increase their knowledge of self-testing and gain buy-in.
3. Consider organizing events for the communities that you serve, either independently or in collaboration with other organizations.
4. Led by, or working in partnership with, Indigenous organizations, consider distributing self-test kits through Indigenous events. This may be an effective way to create a culturally relevant approach to increasing access to HIV testing. By embedding testing initiatives within traditional or other community gatherings that utilize land-based approaches (e.g., use of the medicine wheel, medicine bundles, ceremony), organizations can foster trust, respect cultural protocols and reach individuals who may not otherwise access testing services. This approach respects Indigenous ways of knowing and being and acknowledges the importance of community connection in health promotion.
5. At events, make the self-test kit visible and provide demonstrations if feasible.
6. Use attention grabbers, such as games, conversation starters and peer engagement, to generate interest in the self-test kit.