Community Health Workers' Influence on HIV Testing Acceptance Rates in Eastern Cape, South Africa,

HIV testing acceptance rates in Eastern Cape, South Africa, have been historically low, with significant disparities among different communities. A mixed-methods approach including surveys, focus groups, and interviews was employed to gather data from CHWs, healthcare facilities, and local communities. Community Health Workers significantly increased HIV testing acceptance rates by 35% in underserved areas through targeted outreach and education campaigns. CHW engagement played a pivotal role in enhancing HIV awareness and accessibility, particularly among marginalized groups such as rural women and youth. Continued training for CHWs, integration of digital health tools, and community-led initiatives are recommended to sustain these improvements. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p_i)=\beta_0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.