Feasibility of oral HIV self-testing in female sex workers in Gaborone, Botswana.
<h4>Background</h4>Oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) may be useful for increasing testing in persons at elevated risk of acquiring HIV.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility (defined by uptake) of HIVST among FSW in Gaborone, Botswana. FSW age 18 y...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259508 |
| _version_ | 1797827742075453440 |
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| author | Emily Shava Laura M Bogart Kutlo Manyake Charlotte Mdluli Kamogelo Maribe Neo Monnapula Bornapate Nkomo Mosepele Mosepele Sikhulile Moyo Mompati Mmalane Till Bärnighausen Joseph Makhema Shahin Lockman |
| author_facet | Emily Shava Laura M Bogart Kutlo Manyake Charlotte Mdluli Kamogelo Maribe Neo Monnapula Bornapate Nkomo Mosepele Mosepele Sikhulile Moyo Mompati Mmalane Till Bärnighausen Joseph Makhema Shahin Lockman |
| author_sort | Emily Shava |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) may be useful for increasing testing in persons at elevated risk of acquiring HIV.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility (defined by uptake) of HIVST among FSW in Gaborone, Botswana. FSW age 18 years and above were recruited through a non-governmental organization serving FSW. FSW with unknown or negative HIV status at screening performed HIVST in the study clinic following brief training. FSW testing HIV-negative were each given two test kits to take home: one kit to perform unassisted HIVST and another to share with others. Feasibility (use) of HIVST (and sharing of test kits with others) was assessed in these women at a study visit four months later.<h4>Results</h4>Two hundred FSW were screened. Their average age was 34 years (range 18-59), and 115 (58%) were HIV-positive. Eighty-five (42%) tested HIV-negative at entry and were eligible to take part in the HIVST pilot study. All 85 (100%) agreed to take home HIVST kits. Sixty-nine (81%) of these 85 participants had a follow-up visit, 56 (81%) of whom reported performing HIVST at a mean of three and half months after the initial visit. All 56 participants who performed HIVST reported negative HIVST results. Fifty (73%) of the 69 participants who took HIVST kits home shared them with others. Of the 50 women sharing HIVST kits, 25 (50%) shared with their non-client partners, 15 with a family member, 8 with friends, and 3 with a client. One participant did not test herself but shared both her test kits. Most participants 53/56 (95%) found oral HIVST very easy to use whilst 3/56 (5%) felt it was fairly easy.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Oral HIVST is feasible among FSW in Gaborone, Botswana. The majority of FSW used the HIVST kits themselves and also shared extra HIVST kits with other individuals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:53:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0d202dc37ac4bf79f8d83be8ceab208 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:53:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0d202dc37ac4bf79f8d83be8ceab2082023-05-14T05:31:30ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-011611e025950810.1371/journal.pone.0259508Feasibility of oral HIV self-testing in female sex workers in Gaborone, Botswana.Emily ShavaLaura M BogartKutlo ManyakeCharlotte MdluliKamogelo MaribeNeo MonnapulaBornapate NkomoMosepele MosepeleSikhulile MoyoMompati MmalaneTill BärnighausenJoseph MakhemaShahin Lockman<h4>Background</h4>Oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) may be useful for increasing testing in persons at elevated risk of acquiring HIV.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility (defined by uptake) of HIVST among FSW in Gaborone, Botswana. FSW age 18 years and above were recruited through a non-governmental organization serving FSW. FSW with unknown or negative HIV status at screening performed HIVST in the study clinic following brief training. FSW testing HIV-negative were each given two test kits to take home: one kit to perform unassisted HIVST and another to share with others. Feasibility (use) of HIVST (and sharing of test kits with others) was assessed in these women at a study visit four months later.<h4>Results</h4>Two hundred FSW were screened. Their average age was 34 years (range 18-59), and 115 (58%) were HIV-positive. Eighty-five (42%) tested HIV-negative at entry and were eligible to take part in the HIVST pilot study. All 85 (100%) agreed to take home HIVST kits. Sixty-nine (81%) of these 85 participants had a follow-up visit, 56 (81%) of whom reported performing HIVST at a mean of three and half months after the initial visit. All 56 participants who performed HIVST reported negative HIVST results. Fifty (73%) of the 69 participants who took HIVST kits home shared them with others. Of the 50 women sharing HIVST kits, 25 (50%) shared with their non-client partners, 15 with a family member, 8 with friends, and 3 with a client. One participant did not test herself but shared both her test kits. Most participants 53/56 (95%) found oral HIVST very easy to use whilst 3/56 (5%) felt it was fairly easy.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Oral HIVST is feasible among FSW in Gaborone, Botswana. The majority of FSW used the HIVST kits themselves and also shared extra HIVST kits with other individuals.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259508 |
| spellingShingle | Emily Shava Laura M Bogart Kutlo Manyake Charlotte Mdluli Kamogelo Maribe Neo Monnapula Bornapate Nkomo Mosepele Mosepele Sikhulile Moyo Mompati Mmalane Till Bärnighausen Joseph Makhema Shahin Lockman Feasibility of oral HIV self-testing in female sex workers in Gaborone, Botswana. PLoS ONE |
| title | Feasibility of oral HIV self-testing in female sex workers in Gaborone, Botswana. |
| title_full | Feasibility of oral HIV self-testing in female sex workers in Gaborone, Botswana. |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility of oral HIV self-testing in female sex workers in Gaborone, Botswana. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility of oral HIV self-testing in female sex workers in Gaborone, Botswana. |
| title_short | Feasibility of oral HIV self-testing in female sex workers in Gaborone, Botswana. |
| title_sort | feasibility of oral hiv self testing in female sex workers in gaborone botswana |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259508 |
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