HIV self-testing practices among Health Care Workers: feasibility and options for accelerating HIV testing services in Ethiopia

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) is one of the recommended approaches for HIV testing services, particularly for helping reach populations who would not normally access facility-based HIV testing. HIVST must be tailored to different populations to ensure uptake. Objective: The main objective of this study was to develop an acceptable HIVST delivery strategy to help improve urban men’s engagement with HIV services. Methods: We invited key stakeholders for urban men’s HIV services to participate in a co-creation workshop aimed at developing HIVST delivery approaches for urban men, using eThekwini municipality as a study setting. We conducted purposive sampling to include health care users and health care providers, representing a range of views across the public sector and voluntary sector. We employed the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) method for data collection. The NGT workshop was conducted in two consecutive phases: phase one was focused on determining barriers for men’s engagement with the current/facility-based HIV testing services; phase two was aimed at determining HIVST delivery strategies. We used the results of the NGT to design a tailored HIVST strategy for urban men in eThekwini District. Results: Participants identified the following psychological factors as the most important barriers to uptake of HIV testing services by urban men: stigma, ignorance about the importance of testing and testing process as well as fear of positive test results. Key stakeholders suggested internal motivation strategies as a potentially effective approach to support HIVST delivery strategy. Guided by the NGT results, we designed a HIVST delivery strategy that is supported by a risk communication approach Conclusion: We designed an evidence-based risk communication mobile health (mHealth) strategy coupled with SARS COV-2 self-testing tailored to improve men’s uptake of HIVST. A follow-up study to evaluate the feasibility of implementing these approaches is recommended.

Download Full-text

Reliability of HIV rapid diagnostic tests for self-testing compared with testing by health-care workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The Lancet HIV ◽

10.1016/s2352-3018(18)30044-4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (6) ◽

pp. e277-e290 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Carmen Figueroa ◽

Cheryl Johnson ◽

Nathan Ford ◽

Anita Sands ◽

Shona Dalal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Diagnostic Tests ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽

Self Testing ◽

Care Workers

Download Full-text

Factors Associated with Acceptability of HIV Self-Testing Among Health Care Workers in Kenya

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-014-0830-z ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 18 (S4) ◽

pp. 405-414 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Samuel Kalibala ◽

Waimar Tun ◽

Peter Cherutich ◽

Anne Nganga ◽

Erick Oweya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Self Testing ◽

Care Workers

Download Full-text

Co-Creation of HIVST Delivery Approaches for Improving Urban Men’s Engagement with HIV Services in eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal: Nominal Group Technique

10.21203/rs.3.rs-805091/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tivani Mashamba-Thompson ◽

Richard Lessells ◽

Tafadzwa Dzinamarira ◽

Paul Drain ◽

Lehana Thabane

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Nominal Group Technique ◽

Nominal Group ◽

Delivery Strategy ◽

Hiv Services ◽

Urban Men ◽

Key Stakeholders ◽

Self Testing ◽

Hiv Testing Services

Abstract Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) is one of the recommended approaches for HIV testing services, particularly for helping reach populations who would not normally access facility-based HIV testing. HIVST must be tailored to different populations to ensure uptake. Objective: The main objective of this study was to develop an acceptable HIVST delivery strategy to help improve urban men’s engagement with HIV services. Methods: We invited key stakeholders for urban men’s HIV services to participate in a co-creation workshop aimed at developing HIVST delivery approaches for urban men, using eThekwini municipality as a study setting. We conducted purposive sampling to include health care users and health care providers, representing a range of views across the public sector and voluntary sector. We employed the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) method for data collection. The NGT workshop was conducted in two consecutive phases: phase one was focused on determining barriers for men’s engagement with the current/facility-based HIV testing services; phase two was aimed at determining HIVST delivery strategies. We used the results of the NGT to design a tailored HIVST strategy for urban men in eThekwini District. Results: Participants identified the following psychological factors as the most important barriers to uptake of HIV testing services by urban men: stigma, ignorance about the importance of testing and testing process as well as fear of positive test results. Key stakeholders suggested internal motivation strategies as a potentially effective approach to support HIVST delivery strategy. Guided by the NGT results, we designed a HIVST delivery strategy that is supported by a risk communication approach. Conclusion: We designed an evidence-based risk communication mobile health (mHealth) strategy coupled with SARS COV-2 self-testing tailored to improve men’s uptake of HIVST. A follow-up study to evaluate the feasibility of implementing these approaches is recommended.

Download Full-text

HIV Testing of Health Care Workers in England - A Flawed Policy

Journal of Health Services Research & Policy ◽

10.1258/jhsrp.2009.009095 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 15 (2_suppl) ◽

pp. 62-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lee Salkeld ◽

Sarah McGeehan

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Care Workers

Download Full-text

Position statement on mandatory HIV testing in health care workers

Journal of Pediatric Health Care ◽

10.1016/s0891-5245(00)70047-2 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 24A

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Position Statement ◽

Care Workers

Download Full-text

Exposure to Blood and Body Fluid

AAOHN Journal ◽

10.1177/216507999504301004 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 43 (10) ◽

pp. 507-513 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jennifer Sass ◽

Kathy Bertolone ◽

Diane Denton ◽

M. Cynthia Logsdon

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Body Fluid ◽

Health Belief ◽

Internal Consistency Reliability ◽

Return Rate ◽

Care Workers ◽

Belief Model

Due to lack of previous research, this study examined the factors associated with non-compliance in follow up human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among health care workers after blood and/or body fluid exposure. A descriptive correlation design was used with 178 health care workers who did not return for recommended follow up HIV testing post-blood and/or body fluid exposure at three urban hospitals. The 36 question Likert scale was designed to measure the five concepts of the Health Belief Model: susceptibility, seriousness, benefit, barriers, and health motivation. The internal consistency reliability measured .48. Forty five subjects (25%) returned the questionnaire. The most significant factor determined to affect return rate for follow up testing was related to benefits and susceptibility (F=4.57, df=2,42, R=.42, P=.02). Return rate was most significantly correlated with the idea of decreasing the chance of dying from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (r= .31, P=.04). Similar results of recommended future studies may indicate changes in post-exposure education or institutional policies and procedures.

Download Full-text

Voluntary Counselling and Testing for HIV in the dental setting: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of oral health care workers in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal

South African Dental Journal ◽

10.17159/2519-0105/2021/v76no1a1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 76 (1) ◽

pp. 6-11

Author(s):

Sonam Balwanth ◽

Shenuka Singh

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Oral Health ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Oral Health Care ◽

Rapid Hiv Testing ◽

Voluntary Counselling ◽

Care Workers ◽

Kwazulu Natal ◽

Dental Setting

Oral health care workers are frequently at the forefront in recognizing oral manifestations of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and can therefore play a key role in screening and early detection of HIV in dental patients. This study assessed oral health care workers’ knowledge, attitudes and possible practices in Voluntary Counselling and rapid HIV testing (VCT) in the dental workplace in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal so as to determine their understanding and support for these services. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. A total of 120 questionnaires were distributed to oral health workers located in private and public dental settings in eThekwini district. One hundred (n=100) completed questionnaires were retrieved, yielding a response rate of 83%. The majority of participants (82%) reported that HIV testing and counselling did not occur in their workplace. Participants (87%) also indicated to have not been trained to perform HIV testing. Sixty-six participants (66%) reported willingness to implement HIV testing in their respective dental workplace. Less than half of the study population (41%) were “unsure” regarding the accuracy of rapid HIV testing. Participants reported inadequate knowledge and practice of VCT. Participants had positive attitudes towards VCT implementation in the dental setting, provided that adequate training and support was available from the Kwa-Zulu-Natal Department of Health. Rapid HIV testing, dental workplace, oral health care workers.

Download Full-text