Increasing Uptake and Yield of HIV Testing Services: Non-Monetary Economic Nudge Techniques in Tanzania

Identifying cost-effective HIV testing strategies has become increasingly important in Tanzania as the country gets closer to the target of having 95 percent of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status. One challenge is reaching men and adolescents, who have particularly low testing rates. Studies globally have shown that the costs of economic nudge techniques through non-monetary incentives are minimal and incremental but may yield large aggregate benefits. HP+ conducted a field trial to explore whether economic nudges may motivate populations who do not typically come forward on their own to get tested. Results of the HP+ intervention suggest that even with an expected value as low as US$4.18, economic nudge techniques can increase testing uptake. Moreover, such techniques do appear feasible in Tanzania, as virtually all clients and service providers in the trial reacted favorably toward the intervention and about three-fourths found participation in and administration of the incentive easy.

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