Mapping Evidence of Self-Sampling to Diagnose Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women: A Scoping Review

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major global healthcare burden, disproportionately affecting women. Self-sampling interventions for diagnostic purposes have the potential to improve STI healthcare management and expand STI services. However, there is currently no published e...

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Main Authors: Ziningi N. Jaya, Witness Mapanga, Brian van Niekerk, Thobeka Dlangalala, Kabelo Kgarosi, Mathias Dzobo, Delarise Mulqueeny, Tivani P. Mashamba-Thompson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Diagnostics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/8/1803
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author Ziningi N. Jaya
Witness Mapanga
Brian van Niekerk
Thobeka Dlangalala
Kabelo Kgarosi
Mathias Dzobo
Delarise Mulqueeny
Tivani P. Mashamba-Thompson
author_facet Ziningi N. Jaya
Witness Mapanga
Brian van Niekerk
Thobeka Dlangalala
Kabelo Kgarosi
Mathias Dzobo
Delarise Mulqueeny
Tivani P. Mashamba-Thompson
author_sort Ziningi N. Jaya
collection DOAJ
description Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major global healthcare burden, disproportionately affecting women. Self-sampling interventions for diagnostic purposes have the potential to improve STI healthcare management and expand STI services. However, there is currently no published evidence of the global use of self-sampling interventions to diagnose STIs in women. The main aim of this scoping review was to map evidence on the use of self-sampling interventions to diagnose STIs in women. Methodology: The methodology of this scoping review was guided by Arksey and O’Malley and Levac. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline (EBSCO), ProQuest, and Cochrane. For grey literature, a search was conducted in Open Grey, World Health Organization, Google, and conference proceedings and dissertations. All search results were screened and assessed for eligibility. Thereafter data from eligible studies was extracted and analysed. The quality of these studies was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool 2018 version. Results: A total of 770 articles were retrieved from databases and grey literature sources. A total of 44 studies were eligible for data extraction following title, abstract and full-text screening. Of the included studies, 63% presented evidence of research conducted in high-income countries and 37% presented evidence in low- and middle-income countries. Studies presented evidence on the following: feasibility of self-sampling in remote areas; acceptance and ease of use of self-sampling interventions; types of self-sampled specimens; pooled samples for diagnosing STIs; laboratory diagnostic assays for STI using self-sampled specimens; and self-testing of self-sampled specimens. Conclusions: Self-sampling interventions are feasible and easy to use and, therefore, can improve STI management and treatment in women across various age groups and various access levels to good-quality healthcare. Despite this, there is a lack of evidence of self-sampling interventions designed according to user preferences. We recommend studies to collaborate with women to co-develop user-friendly self-sampling interventions to diagnose STIs in women.
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spelling doaj.art-49e9c577e921478d810a25448cc144f42023-12-01T23:35:52ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182022-07-01128180310.3390/diagnostics12081803Mapping Evidence of Self-Sampling to Diagnose Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women: A Scoping ReviewZiningi N. Jaya0Witness Mapanga1Brian van Niekerk2Thobeka Dlangalala3Kabelo Kgarosi4Mathias Dzobo5Delarise Mulqueeny6Tivani P. Mashamba-Thompson7School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaSchool of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaDepartment of Plant and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaSchool of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaDepartment of Library Services, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaSchool of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaDepartment of Social Work, Faculty of Arts, University of Zululand, Richards Bay 3900, South AfricaFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaBackground: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major global healthcare burden, disproportionately affecting women. Self-sampling interventions for diagnostic purposes have the potential to improve STI healthcare management and expand STI services. However, there is currently no published evidence of the global use of self-sampling interventions to diagnose STIs in women. The main aim of this scoping review was to map evidence on the use of self-sampling interventions to diagnose STIs in women. Methodology: The methodology of this scoping review was guided by Arksey and O’Malley and Levac. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline (EBSCO), ProQuest, and Cochrane. For grey literature, a search was conducted in Open Grey, World Health Organization, Google, and conference proceedings and dissertations. All search results were screened and assessed for eligibility. Thereafter data from eligible studies was extracted and analysed. The quality of these studies was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool 2018 version. Results: A total of 770 articles were retrieved from databases and grey literature sources. A total of 44 studies were eligible for data extraction following title, abstract and full-text screening. Of the included studies, 63% presented evidence of research conducted in high-income countries and 37% presented evidence in low- and middle-income countries. Studies presented evidence on the following: feasibility of self-sampling in remote areas; acceptance and ease of use of self-sampling interventions; types of self-sampled specimens; pooled samples for diagnosing STIs; laboratory diagnostic assays for STI using self-sampled specimens; and self-testing of self-sampled specimens. Conclusions: Self-sampling interventions are feasible and easy to use and, therefore, can improve STI management and treatment in women across various age groups and various access levels to good-quality healthcare. Despite this, there is a lack of evidence of self-sampling interventions designed according to user preferences. We recommend studies to collaborate with women to co-develop user-friendly self-sampling interventions to diagnose STIs in women.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/8/1803self-samplesexually transmitted diseasewomen
spellingShingle Ziningi N. Jaya
Witness Mapanga
Brian van Niekerk
Thobeka Dlangalala
Kabelo Kgarosi
Mathias Dzobo
Delarise Mulqueeny
Tivani P. Mashamba-Thompson
Mapping Evidence of Self-Sampling to Diagnose Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women: A Scoping Review
Diagnostics
self-sample
sexually transmitted disease
women
title Mapping Evidence of Self-Sampling to Diagnose Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women: A Scoping Review
title_full Mapping Evidence of Self-Sampling to Diagnose Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women: A Scoping Review
title_fullStr Mapping Evidence of Self-Sampling to Diagnose Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women: A Scoping Review
title_full_unstemmed Mapping Evidence of Self-Sampling to Diagnose Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women: A Scoping Review
title_short Mapping Evidence of Self-Sampling to Diagnose Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women: A Scoping Review
title_sort mapping evidence of self sampling to diagnose sexually transmitted infections in women a scoping review
topic self-sample
sexually transmitted disease
women
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/8/1803
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