'I Know That I Do Have HIV but Nobody Saw Me': Oral HIV Self-Testing in an Informal Settlement in South Africa

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2016 Apr 5

PMID 27044006

Citations 44

Authors

Guillermo Martinez Perez

Vivian Cox

Tom Ellman

Ann Moore

Gabriela Patten

Amir Shroufi

Kathryn Stinson

Gilles Van Cutsem

Maryrene Ibeto

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Reaching universal HIV-status awareness is crucial to ensure all HIV-infected patients access antiretroviral treatment (ART) and achieve virological suppression. Opportunities for HIV testing could be enhanced by offering self-testing in populations that fear stigma and discrimination when accessing conventional HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) in health care facilities. This qualitative research aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of unsupervised oral self-testing for home use in an informal settlement of South Africa. Eleven in-depth interviews, two couple interviews, and two focus group discussions were conducted with seven healthcare workers and thirteen community members. Thematic analysis was done concurrently with data collection. Acceptability to offer home self-testing was demonstrated in this research. Home self-testing might help this population overcome barriers to accepting HCT; this was particularly expressed in the male and youth groups. Nevertheless, pilot interventions must provide evidence of potential harm related to home self-testing, intensify efforts to offer quality counselling, and ensure linkage to HIV/ART-care following a positive self-test result.

Citing Articles

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Lewis-Kulzer J, Olugo P, Gutin S, Kwena Z, Nishimura H, Thorp M BMC Public Health. 2025; 25(1):1005.

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"There is no need to leave the beach to test": A qualitative study of HIV self-testing knowledge and acceptability of HIV self-test kit distribution among social networks of fishermen in western Kenya.

Lewis-Kulzer J, Olugo P, Gutin S, Kwena Z, Nishimura H, Thorp M Res Sq. 2024; .

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A Cross-Sectional Assessment of HIV Self-Testing Preferences and Uptake Among Key Populations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Cassell M, Girault P, Nith S, Rang C, Sokhan S, Tuot S Glob Health Sci Pract. 2022; 10(3).

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Linkage to care and treatment among men with reactive HIV self-tests after workplace-based testing in Uganda: A qualitative study.

Muwanguzi P, Nelson L, Ngabirano T, Kiwanuka N, Osingada C, Sewankambo N Front Public Health. 2022; 10:650719.

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Factors associated with accessing and utilisation of healthcare and provision of health services for residents of slums in low and middle-income countries: a scoping review of recent literature.

Park J, Kibe P, Yeboah G, Oyebode O, Harris B, Ajisola M BMJ Open. 2022; 12(5):e055415.

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