'When I have these kits … I have confidence' - HIV self-testing provides agency for women in their sexual decision-making.
Lucy W RudermanPerez OchwalNoora MarcusSue NapieralaHarsha ThirumurthyKawango AgotSuzanne MamanPublished in: Global public health (2022)
Oral fluid-based HIV self-testing (HIVST) has emerged as a promising approach to increasing HIV testing coverage, particularly among high-risk populations. Understanding the experiences of women using self-tests and offering them to their sexual partners (secondary distribution) is crucial for determining the potential of HIVST. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted among 32 women at high risk of HIV infection, including women who engage in transactional sex, who participated in a cluster randomised trial of a secondary distribution strategy in western Kenya. Interviews explored how women used self-tests within relationships and how this affected their sexual decision-making. Three key themes emerged: women used HIVST to assess risk prior to engaging in sex with partners; HIVST provided women with increased agency to engage in or end relationships; and women appreciated these benefits and urged expanded access to self-tests. HIVST has the potential to support HIV prevention objectives in settings with high prevalence of HIV. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03135067.
Keyphrases
- hiv testing
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- men who have sex with men
- pregnancy outcomes
- antiretroviral therapy
- decision making
- hiv positive
- human immunodeficiency virus
- mental health
- cervical cancer screening
- hepatitis c virus
- breast cancer risk
- hiv aids
- clinical trial
- systematic review
- south africa
- pregnant women
- study protocol
- risk assessment
- type diabetes
- skeletal muscle
- adipose tissue
- phase ii
- double blind