Acceptability and feasibility of HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men in Peru and Brazil

Abstract

HIV self-testing has the potential to increase testing frequency and uptake. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of HIV self-testing in a sample of sexually active men who have sex with men in Peru and Brazil. Participants were trained to use a whole blood rapid HIV self-test and instructed to use the self-test monthly during this three-month study. Test acceptability was measured with self-reported use of the test at the one-month and three-month study visits, and test feasibility was assessed by direct observation of self-test administration at the final three-month visit. A total of 103 participants (52 in Peru and 51 in Brazil) were enrolled, and 86% completed the three-month study. Nearly all participants reported use of the self-test (97% at one-month and 98% at three-month visit), and all participants correctly interpreted the self-administered test results when observed using the test at the final study visit. HIV self-testing with a blood-based assay was highly acceptable and feasible. HIV self-testing may have the potential to increase testing frequency and to reach high-risk men who have sex with men not currently accessing HIV-testing services.

Fingerprick Versus Oral Swab: Acceptability of Blood-Based Testing Increases If Other STIs Can Be Detected

“…Patient acceptability of self-administered procedures for obtaining biological samples such as urine or vaginal swabs is consistently high [2]. Similarly, acceptability of self-testing for HIV is high in both hypothetical [3-5] and actual-use studies [5-10]. …”

New initiatives to develop self-testing for HIV

“…Non-RCT projects which have provided participants with a number of HIVSTs with instructions to test frequently have shown that distribution in line with this intervention approach is feasible amongst trans gender women in San Francisco (32), and MSM in Brazil and Peru (21).…”

Individual-level characteristics associated with oral HIV test acceptability among Peruvian men who have sex with men and transgender women: a cross-sectional study

“…An internet study among Brazilian MSM found that 47% preferred home-based testing compared with clinic based testing; however, the study did not examine views on the oral test itself 16. In another study examining the acceptability of home-based HIV testing among Brazilian and Peruvian MSM, acceptability of the approach was again high (97%) but oral HIV testing was not one of the options assessed 17. A third study, conducted in Peru among 147 MSM and 45 TGW, focused solely on the hypothetical acceptability of self-testing using the oral HIV test (if free of charge) and reported a high (82%) acceptability 18.…”