TY - JOUR
T1 - Acceptability and perceptions of HIV oral self-testing across settings
T2 - A comparative qualitative study among Dominican and Tanzanian female sex workers
AU - Beckham, Sam Wilson
AU - S. Karver, Tahilin
AU - Mantsios, Andrea
AU - Shembilu, Catherine
AU - Donastorg, Yeycy
AU - Perez, Martha
AU - Gomez, Hoisex
AU - Barrington, Clare
AU - Mwampashi, Ardi
AU - Davis, Wendy
AU - Likindikoki, Samuel
AU - Mbwambo, Jessie K.
AU - Kerrigan, Deanna
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health grants R01MH110158 and R01MH104033 PI Kerrigan and K01MH114715 PI Beckham); the Johns Hopkins University Center for AIDS Research [grant number P30AI094189]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. We would like to thank the study participants and research teams from the Dominican Republic and Tanzania for their time, dedication, and commitment to this work.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Rapid oral HIV self-tests (HIVST) have potential to increase the proportion of people who know their HIV status, especially among stigmatised populations. This study was embedded in two cohorts of female sex workers (FSW) in the Dominican Republic (DR) and Tanzania. Qualitative interviews with 40 FSW were conducted to explore perceived acceptability of HIVST. Interviews were analysed using inductive and deductive thematic coding. Emergent themes were organised by socio-ecological framework levels. FSW in both settings responded positively to the ease of use of HIVST but questioned test accuracy due to the use of saliva rather than blood. FSW in the DR had a more cautious response, while women in Tanzania had favourable perceptions expressing eagerness to use it. At the individual level, themes shaping participants’ interest included autonomy, HIV risk perception, and emotional well-being for those with reactive test results, and self-efficacy. At the interpersonal level, privacy, confidentiality, sex work and HIV stigma and social support were salient. Structural level themes focused on health systems including linkages to HIV treatment, provider roles, and access (cost, travel, distribution). Understanding FSW’s perceptions and acceptability of HIVST is essential to its integration into health systems and programmes using a community-driven approach.
AB - Rapid oral HIV self-tests (HIVST) have potential to increase the proportion of people who know their HIV status, especially among stigmatised populations. This study was embedded in two cohorts of female sex workers (FSW) in the Dominican Republic (DR) and Tanzania. Qualitative interviews with 40 FSW were conducted to explore perceived acceptability of HIVST. Interviews were analysed using inductive and deductive thematic coding. Emergent themes were organised by socio-ecological framework levels. FSW in both settings responded positively to the ease of use of HIVST but questioned test accuracy due to the use of saliva rather than blood. FSW in the DR had a more cautious response, while women in Tanzania had favourable perceptions expressing eagerness to use it. At the individual level, themes shaping participants’ interest included autonomy, HIV risk perception, and emotional well-being for those with reactive test results, and self-efficacy. At the interpersonal level, privacy, confidentiality, sex work and HIV stigma and social support were salient. Structural level themes focused on health systems including linkages to HIV treatment, provider roles, and access (cost, travel, distribution). Understanding FSW’s perceptions and acceptability of HIVST is essential to its integration into health systems and programmes using a community-driven approach.
KW - Dominican Republic
KW - HIV
KW - Tanzania
KW - female sex workers
KW - self-testing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102935826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85102935826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17441692.2021.1901129
DO - 10.1080/17441692.2021.1901129
M3 - Article
C2 - 33736565
AN - SCOPUS:85102935826
SN - 1744-1692
VL - 17
SP - 870
EP - 884
JO - Global public health
JF - Global public health
IS - 6
ER -