scholarly journals Men’s use of sexual health and HIV services in Swaziland: a mixed methods study

Sexual Health ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joelle Mak ◽  
Susannah H. Mayhew ◽  
Ariane von Maercker ◽  
Integra Research Team ◽  
Manuela Colombini
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Hiv Services ◽  
Hiv Test

Background: Over one-quarter of the adult population in Swaziland is estimated to be HIV positive. Men’s use of sexual health (SH) services has significant implications for HIV prevention. This study aimed to understand Swazi men’s health-seeking behaviours in relation to SH and HIV services. Methods: A household survey was conducted in Manzini (n = 503), complemented by 23 semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions (with a total of 10 participants). Results: One-third of male survey participants used SH services in the past year, most commonly HIV testing (28%). Service users were more likely to be sexually active (aOR 3.21, 95% CI: 1.81–5.68 for those with one partner; and aOR 2.35, 95% CI: 1.25–4.41 for those with multiple partners) compared with service non-users. Service users were less likely to prefer HIV services to be separated from other healthcare services (aOR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.35–0.71), or to agree with travelling further for their HIV test (aOR 0.52, 95% CI: 0.33–0.82) compared with non-users, after controlling for age-group and education. Men avoided SH services because they feared being stigmatised by STI/HIV testing, are uncomfortable disclosing SH problems to female healthcare providers, and avoided HIV testing by relying on their wife’s results as a proxy for their own status. Informal providers, such as traditional healers, were often preferred because practitioners were more often male, physical exams were not required and appointments and payment options were flexible. Conclusion: To improve men’s uptake of SH services, providers and services need to be more sensitive to men’s privacy concerns, time restrictions and the potential stigma associated with STI/HIV testing.

scholarly journals Strengths and weaknesses of rapid hiv test implementation in a specialized center in Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 560-567
Author(s):  
Adolfo Pizzinato ◽  
Kátia Bones Rocha ◽  
Rodrigo De Oliveira-Machado ◽  
Fernanda Torres de Carvalho ◽  
Isadora Nogueira-Freire
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Rapid Hiv Testing ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Rapid Hiv Test

Objective To analyze how health professionals and health service users assess counseling on Rapid HIV test, as well as its implementation, which started in Brazil in 2010, focusing on positive aspects, barriers, and limitations, and analyzing possible meanings that are given to STD and HIV/AIDS.Method Qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive research. Semi-structured interviews were administered to 27 service users and 14 health care professionals; a thematic analysis of the interviews was performed. The study was carried out in one of the first Counseling and Testing Centers (CTC) designed to implement Rapid HIV tests in Porto Alegre, Brazil.Results Positive aspects of Rapid HIV testing implementation included a reduced waiting time for obtaining the test results, better assistance provision, an increase in the number of service hours, personalized pre- and post-tests, and better prepared health care professionals regarding health care during counseling. Limitations included beliefs about the effectiveness of Rapid HIV testing, physical structure, bad publicity on this technology, and poor health care capacity. Likewise, there are some who oppose this type of test, since they believe rapid tests may not be effective.Conclusions Integrating the perspectives of health care professionals and users on this policy will favor future rapid test implementations in other CTCs, and increase health care access possibilities.

scholarly journals Factors associated with HIV testing among traditional healers and their clients in rural Uganda: Results from a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. 095646242110150
Author(s):  
Doreen Nabukalu ◽  
Matthew Ponticiello ◽  
Thomas Bennett ◽  
Sunday Clark ◽  
Rachel King ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past ◽  
Male Clients ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Testing Uptake

Uptake of HIV testing is suboptimal in Uganda, particularly in rural communities. Reaching UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals requires strategies to increase HIV testing among hard-to-reach populations. This cross-sectional study sought to characterize engagement with HIV testing among traditional healers and their clients in rural Uganda. We enrolled 175 traditional healers and 392 adult clients of healers in Mbarara District. The primary outcome for this study was having received an HIV test in the prior 12 months. Most clients ( n = 236, 65.9%) had received an HIV test within 12 months, compared to less than half of healers ( n = 75, 46.3%) who had not. In multivariate regression models, male clients of healers were half as likely to have tested in the past year, compared with female (adjusted odds ratios (AORs) = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.26–0.70). Increasing age negatively predicted testing within the past year (AOR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93–0.97) for clients. Among healers, more sexual partners predicted knowing ones serostatus (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.03–2.48). Healers (AOR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.07–1.26) and clients (AOR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.13–1.34 for clients) with greater numbers of lifetime HIV tests were more likely to have tested in the past year. Traditional healers and their clients lag behind UNAIDS benchmarks and would benefit from programs to increase HIV testing uptake.

scholarly journals Post-test comparison of HIV test knowledge and changes in sexual risk behaviour between clients accessing HIV testing online versus in-clinic

2019 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis Salway ◽  
Kimberly Thomson ◽  
Darlene Taylor ◽  
Devon Haag ◽  
Elizabeth Elliot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Sexual Risk ◽  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Post Test

ObjectiveInternet-based HIV testing offers the potential to address privacy-related barriers to testing and increase frequency of testing but may result in missed opportunities related to sexual health education and prevention that typically occur in face-to-face encounters. In this study, we assessed the HIV test knowledge and sexual risk behaviour of clients testing for HIV through GetCheckedOnline, an internet-based sexually transmitted and bloodborne infection testing platform inclusive of HIV testing, in comparison to clients testing through a large sexual health clinic.MethodsWe concurrently recruited GetCheckedOnline clients and clinic clients from Vancouver, Canada, over the course of a 10-month period during 2015–2016. Participants completed baseline and 3-month questionnaires, anonymous and online. A six-item score was used to estimate knowledge of HIV test concepts typically conveyed during an HIV pretest encounter in a clinic. We used multiple regression to estimate associations between testing modality (online vs clinic based) and two outcomes—HIV test knowledge and change in condom use pre/post-test—with adjustment for relevant background factors.ResultsAmong 352 participants, online testers demonstrated higher HIV post-test knowledge than clinic-based testers (mean score 4.65/6 vs 4.09/6; p<0.05); this difference was reduced in adjusted analysis (p>0.05). Men who have sex with men, clients with a university degree, those who have lived in Canada >10 years and English speakers had higher HIV post-test knowledge (p<0.05). Eighteen per cent of online testers and 10% of clinic-based testers increased condom use during the 3 months post-test (p>0.05).ConclusionsIn this comparative study between online and clinic-based testers, we found no evidence of decreased HIV test knowledge or decreased condom use following HIV testing through GetCheckedOnline. Our findings suggest that with careful design and attention to educational content, online testing services may not lead to missed opportunities for HIV education and counselling.

scholarly journals BARRIERS TO PREVENTION OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV SERVICES IN UGANDA

2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. MBONYE ◽  
K. S. HANSEN ◽  
F. WAMONO ◽  
P. MAGNUSSEN
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Wealth Quintile ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Mother To Child Transmission ◽  
Child Transmission ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Mother To Child

SummaryUnderstanding care-seeking practices and barriers to prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV is necessary in designing effective programmes to address the high disease burden due to HIV/AIDS in Uganda. This study explored perceptions, care-seeking practices and barriers to PMTCT among young and HIV-positive women. A household survey (10,706 women aged 14–49 years), twelve focus group discussions and 66 key informant interviews were carried out between January and April 2009 in Wakiso district, central Uganda. Results show that access to PMTCT services (family planning, HIV counselling and testing and delivery at health units) was poor. Decision making was an important factor in accessing PMTCT services. Socioeconomic factors (wealth quintile, age, education level) and institutional practices also influenced access to PMTCT. Overall, having had an HIV test was highest when both men and women made decisions together or when women were empowered to make their own decisions. This was significant across wealth quintiles (p=0.0001), age groups (p=0.0001) and education levels (p=0.0001). The least level of HIV testing was when men made decisions for their spouses; and this was the case with family planning and deliveries at health units. Other barriers to PMTCT were fear of women and male spouses to have an HIV test and the perception that HIV testing is compulsory in antenatal clinics. In conclusion, to increase access to PMTCT among women, especially the young, poor and least educated, there is a need to empower them to make decisions on health seeking, and also to empower men to support their spouses to make good decisions. Other barriers like fear of having an HIV test should be addressed through appropriate counselling of clients.

scholarly journals Examining Stakeholder’s Views On Refugee Healthcare Needs, Current Barriers in Accessing Healthcare Services and Future Healthcare Direction in New Zealand: A Qualitative Phenomenological Approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bafreen Sherif ◽  
Ahmed Awaisu ◽  
Nadir Kheir
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Healthcare Needs

Abstract Background The annual New Zealand refugee quota was increased to 1500 places from 2020 onwards as a response to the global refugee crisis. The specific healthcare needs of refugees are not clearly understood globally and communication between healthcare providers and refugees remains poor. Methods A phenomenological qualitative methodology was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews among purposively selected stakeholders who work in refugee organisations and relevant bodies in New Zealand. Results The participants indicated the need for a national framework of inclusion, mandating cultural competency training for frontline healthcare and non-healthcare personnel, creation of a national interpretation phone line, and establishing health navigators. Barriers to accessing health services identified included some social determinants of health such as housing and community environment; health-seeking behaviour and health literacy; and social support networks. Future healthcare delivery should focus on capacity building of existing services, including co-design processes, increased funding for refugee-specific health services, and whole government approach. Conclusion Policymakers and refugee organisations and their frontline personnel should seek to address the deficiencies identified in order to provide equitable, timely and cost-effective healthcare services for refugees in New Zealand.

scholarly journals ‘The medicine is not for sale’: Practices of traditional healers in snakebite envenoming in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. e0009298
Author(s):  
Jonathan Steinhorst ◽  
Leslie Mawuli Aglanu ◽  
Sofanne J. Ravensbergen ◽  
Chrisantus Danaah Dari ◽  
Kabiru Mohammed Abass ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wound Care ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Wound Complications ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Bite Wounds ◽  
Improve Health

Background Snakebite envenoming is a medical emergency which is common in many tropical lower- and middle-income countries. Traditional healers are frequently consulted as primary care-givers for snakebite victims in distress. Traditional healers therefore present a valuable source of information about how snakebite is perceived and handled at the community level, an understanding of which is critical to improve and extend snakebite-related healthcare. Method The study was approached from the interpretive paradigm with phenomenology as a methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 traditional healers who treat snakebite patients in two rural settings in Ghana. From the Ashanti and Upper West regions respectively, 11 and 8 healers were purposively sampled. Interview data was coded, collated and analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti 8 software. Demographic statistics were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26. Findings Snakebite was reportedly a frequent occurrence, perceived as dangerous and often deadly by healers. Healers felt optimistic in establishing a diagnosis of snakebite using a multitude of methods, ranging from herbal applications to spiritual consultations. They were equally confident about their therapies; encompassing the administration of plant and animal-based concoctions and manipulations of bite wounds. Traditional healers were consulted for both physical and spiritual manifestations of snakebite or after insufficient pain control and lack of antivenom at hospitals; referrals by healers to hospitals were primarily done to receive antivenom and care for wound complications. Most healers welcomed opportunities to engage more productively with hospitals and clinical staff. Conclusions The fact that traditional healers did sometimes refer victims to hospitals indicates that improvement of antivenom stocks, pain management and wound care can potentially improve health seeking at hospitals. Our results emphasize the need to explore future avenues for communication and collaboration with traditional healers to improve health seeking behaviour and the delivery of much-needed healthcare to snakebite victims.

HIV testing in an urgent-care clinic

Sexual Health ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Murphy ◽  
Oscar Grusky ◽  
Kathleen Johnston Roberts ◽  
Aimee-Noelle Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Medical Setting ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Urgent Care Clinic

Background: Early detection of HIV is increasingly important in light of advances in HIV research and treatment. Although treatment advances offer the potential to curtail HIV incidence and seroprevalence, the full benefits remain unrealised because many infected individuals remain unaware of their serostatus. An intensive observational study of HIV testing and counselling was undertaken in a large health maintenance organisation’s urgent-care clinic (UCC) for non-threatening illnesses and non-traumatic injuries in order to better understand the HIV testing process in a medical setting. Methods: Multiple data collection strategies, including observation, semi-structured interviews and document and policy analyses, were used in order to identify key factors influencing HIV testing. The study examined physicians’, nurses’ and physician’s assistants’ relationships with patients in the UCC. Results: It was found that HIV testing in the UCC is highly variable because some patients are asked about their sexual risk histories and given HIV prevention education materials and others are not. Moreover, for those patients who do receive these components of testing, the content of both the risk assessments and HIV prevention counselling varies from patient to patient. Findings also highlight the problematic nature of providing HIV test results in an UCC. Conclusions: A number of implementation issues were found to be relevant to the new US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policy of making HIV testing a routine feature of medical care. The study results suggest the need for organisationally fine-tuned interventions designed to improve the process of testing patients for HIV in medical settings.

Beyond the binary: sexual health outcomes of transgender and non-binary service users of an online sexual health service

2021 ◽  
pp. 095646242098283
Author(s):  
Sara Day ◽  
Joanna Smith ◽  
Sean Perera ◽  
Sophie Jones ◽  
Ryan Kinsella
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
P Value ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Healthcare Needs ◽  
Sexual Health Service ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Group Sex

Sexual health data on transgender and non-binary (TNB) people in the United Kingdom are limited. TNB individuals experience significant socioeconomic and stigma-related disadvantages. Sexual health morbidity and unmet need is likely to be significant. We compared the sexual health outcomes of TNB and cisgender users of London’s online sexual health service. Of 119329 users that registered with the e-service between 30.4.19 and 31.12.19, 504 (0.42%) identified as TNB: 302 TNB users requested 463 kits. 78.4% (363/463) of kits were returned. 99.4% of dispatched kits included throat and rectal swabs for gonorrhoea and chlamydia testing. STI/HIV test positivity was: 5.5% syphilis, 4.8% chlamydia, 3.4% gonorrhoea and 0.7% HIV positive. HIV prevalence amongst TNB individuals was: 4.3%. 19.9% of TNB individuals engaged in chemsex, group sex, or fisting and were more likely to engage in sex work (95% CI 4.35-8.95, p-value <0.0001). 97.7% gave the service 4/5 or 5/5 star rating. We observed high positivity rates of HIV/STIs amongst TNB individuals and significant levels of high-risk sexual activity. Service users rated the service highly. Given TNB often have complex healthcare needs, some of which cannot be met entirely online, physical clinics must work collaboratively with e-services to support and protect this marginalised population.

scholarly journals 'He said he had been out doing the traffic': general practitioner perceptions of sexually transmitted infection and HIV testing strategies for men

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Martin Woodbridge ◽  
Anthony Dowell ◽  
Lesley Gray
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infection ◽  
Health Practitioner ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Testing Strategies

INTRODUCTION: Sexual health is an important component of primary care, and optimal sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing by doctors could help improve sexual health outcomes for men. Currently, little is known about general practitioners' (GPs') assessment of STI and HIV risk, particularly in relation to male patients, and the degree to which current advice can be translated into consistent testing protocols. The aim of the study was to explore STI and HIV testing strategies for men in general practice and opportunities and barriers to more optimal testing. METHODS: This study used a qualitative, multiple-case methodology, incorporating 17 distinct GP cases, drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews, and using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: The following themes were identified: sexual health consultations by men in general practice are usually initiated by the patient; GPs appear to have a consistent rationale for their risk assessments in terms of STI testing; the nature of the doctor's interaction with men influences the quality of sexual health services utilisation; optimal sexual health consultations require sufficient time and a recognition of the 'delicacy' of the consultation content for both patient and health practitioner. CONCLUSION: The stratified testing strategies undertaken by GPs appeared appropriate given the risk profiles of their patients. Constraints to optimal sexual health consultations were identified, including inadequate consultation time, male utilisation of GP consultations, and challenges in discussing sexual health topics within the consultation. Prioritising men's sexual health as a topic in CME may be helpful. KEYWORDS: General practitioners; health communication; HIV; men; sexual health; sexually transmitted infections

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