Feasibility and Acceptability of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Self-Testing for Men of Middle-to-Upper Socioeconomic Status in Botswana: A Pilot Study at 4 Worksites in the Financial Sector.

Journal: Open forum infectious diseases

Volume: 11

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  University of Botswana, Faculty of Medicine, & Boitekanelo College, Counselling Department, Gaborone, Botswana. RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, USA. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana and Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.

Abstract summary 

Although Botswana has made great progress in expanding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, men are less likely to be tested for HIV and test at a later stage compared with women. For Botswana to increase HIV testing coverage among men, HIV self-testing (HIVST) may be a promising supplement to standard, healthcare facility-based HIV testing. We conducted a pilot test of the feasibility and acceptability of HIVST for men of middle-to-upper socioeconomic status in Botswana.Thirty-five men were recruited through 4 workplaces (banking sector). Wellness officers emailed all potentially eligible male employees about the opportunity to participate. Men were surveyed at baseline and follow-up on basic sociodemographic characteristics, HIV testing history, HIV stigma, use of the HIVST kit (at follow-up), and confirmatory testing and linkage to care if a preliminary positive result is obtained (at follow-up).All 35 men used the kit. The proportion who agreed with the statement that getting tested for HIV helps people feel better increased significantly from 80.7% at baseline to 100% at follow-up. In open-ended questions, men described the advantages of HIVST, including improved privacy and convenience, lowered HIV stigma, and enhanced control over testing. Concerns about HIVST included potential negative mental health consequences owing to not receiving pretest and posttest counseling, and not linking to care after a reactive result.Results suggest that an intervention in which HIVST is discrete, private, and under men's control can help overcome stigma around HIV testing, resulting in a greater number of men tested.

Authors & Co-authors:  Kgotlaetsile Bogart Phaladze Klein Mosepele

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  UNAIDS . Country factsheets: Botswana 2021. UNAIDS, 2022. Available at: https://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/botswana. Accessed.
Authors :  5
Identifiers
Doi : ofad661
SSN : 2328-8957
Study Population
Men,Male
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
Botswana;HIV self-testing (HIVST);men;stigma;sub-Saharan Africa
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Botswana
Publication Country
United States