Table 3 Recommendations for Message Development

Content

Messages should:

• come from a trusted source

• be in local languages

• be personalised

• be informative, encouraging and reassuring

• not scare people

• emphasise the benefits of knowing your HIV status

• emphasise that testing is free for everyone

• give information on where to get tested

• not only focus on HIV, as this might get repetitive and might become boring

• include information on other health issues

Structure

• No consensus on how often the messages should come, what time of day they should be received, or how long the intervention should last

• Messages should not be too frequent, should not ‘bombard’ participants