Level of knowledge, acceptability, and willingness to use oral fluid HIV self-testing among medical students in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Vara, Proches; Buhulula, Luyeye Sostenes; Mohammed, Fatma Aziz; Njau, Bernard

doi:10.1186/s12981-020-00311-1

Cited by 18 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…This is similar to the average age found in a study done among medical students in the Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania. This Tanzanian study revealed that the average age for sexual debut was 19 (Vara et al, 2020) and the majority of respondents (73.2%) reported using a condom on the first sexual encounter which corroborates with a study by Dzinamarira and colleagues showing 75 % of the participants using a condom on their first sexual encounter (Dzinamarira et al, 2020). Consistency of condom use is confirmed by 49.5% of the respondents, while 7.2% reported that they never use condoms during sex.…”

Section: Sexual Health and Health Seeking Behaviour Characteristicssupporting

confidence: 87%

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions about HIV self-testing amongst college students in Namibia

2022

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Background: In 2019, the Namibian Ministry of Health introduced HIV self-testing (HIVST) as an additional strategy to increase uptake of HIV self-testing in traditionally hard-to-reach subpopulations, such as young adults and males. It is unclear how the utilisation of HIV self-testing iw optimised in young adults. The study objective is understanding knowledge, attitudes, and perception levels amongst college-going young adults in Namibia. Methods: This quantitative study utilised a sample of 97 young college students who received a pre-test structured questionnaire. One sample t-test was used to analyse the average score from the Likert scale. A cut-off p-value of 0.05 to determine statistical significance of variables was used. Logistic regression computation was used to identify independent variables significantly associated with the dependent variable. A univariate analysis was done on awareness and acceptability with statistical significance of p<0.05 to obtain preliminary insights into the association between independent and dependent variables. The net effect variables are assessed using multivariate analysis using STATA 13.1, taking into account confounding factors. Results: Out of the 97 participants, only 23.7% knew about HIV self-testing. The logistic regression had a significant association with awareness of HIV self-testing (p≤0.05): on condom use during a first sexual encounter; being with a single sexual partner in the last 12 months; not having a sexually transmitted infection. The univariate analysis revealed an association with the acceptability of HIV self-testing from females; those who live in urban settlements; having not had sexually transmitted infection in the last twelve months. Moreover, findings reveal there are low levels of awareness, yet participants had positive attitudes and levels of acceptability to HIV self-testing. Conclusion: This study shows promise if awareness through health education and promotion about HIV self-testing can be increased. This can form part of scaling up HIV testing in Namibia.

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Section: Sexual Health and Health Seeking Behaviour Characteristicssupporting

confidence: 87%

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions about HIV self-testing amongst college students in Namibia

2022

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“…From this study, KPs can strongly network to increase awareness and access to PrEP and HIVST services in Nigeria, as applied to other settings [20][21]. This is quite encouraging considering the importance of peer in uence in producing multiplier effects in behaviours.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…Cross-cutting factors that may encourage an implementation of sustainable and targeted strategies that are KP-friendly to acquiring PrEP and HIVST messages were elicited from the study. The ndings suggest that dissemination of PrEP and HIVST messages will require the use a targeted messaging and disaggregated audience, hence, content should consider the preferences of the KP groups for effective and sustainable impacts [20][21].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communication Needs for Improved Uptake of Prep and HIVST Services Among Key Populations in Nigeria: A Mixed-Method Study

Durosinmi-Etti

Nwala

Oki

et al. 2021

Preprint

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BackgroundWorld Health Organization (WHO) reports that people who indulge in risky behaviours such as penile-anal sex, unprotected intercourse, multiple sex partners, and use of alcohol and illicit drugs are at risk of HIV/AIDS and have been classified as key populations (KPs). Since the introduction of PrEP and HIVST for the key population groups in Nigeria, government entities and implementing partners have used a range of channels in messaging these essential services across to the target groups – ranging from in-person, social media, television, and radio adverts. Yet, only little successes have been recorded, thereby necessitating the need to document the enabling facilitators, barriers to, and needs of the KP groups in communicating PrEP and HIVST services in Nigeria. MethodsA mixed-method cross-sectional design was used for the study with a total of 1169 key populations in Nigeria. Surveys and qualitative exploratory methods were employed to collect data from MSM, FSWs, and key influencers of the KP groups (health providers, peer educators, HIV program officers). Quantitative data was collected data through an open data kit (ODK), while qualitative data was collected using a topic guide in August 2020. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20 for descriptive statistics while qualitative data analysis was conducted through deductive and thematic analysis based on the codebook.Results The KPs were mainly urban dwellers, and a majority of the participants were aged between 18 to 28yrs. However, the MSM group were of a younger population compared to the FSWs. Different level of education was reported, although a majority completed secondary education (56.1% FSWs and 43.5% MSM). The MSM group showed more tendency to acquire higher education compared to the FSWs. For example, about 51.3% of the MSM group were undergraduates compared to 9.5% of the FSWs. The majority of the KPs were self-employed (56.4% FSWs and 40% MSM), however, the proportion of KPs who were unemployed was also glaring (25.8% FSWs and 16.5% MSM). Only about 51% of the KPs were aware of PrEP, with typological variations (39.9% FSWs and 62.3% MSM). Among the MSM group, awareness about PrEP services was higher in Lagos (82.5%), compared to 53.1% and 54.5% in A/Ibom and C/River states respectively. Among the enablers to acquiring PrEP information was the ability of the KPs to network within their communities and on personal relationships. Evidence shows that no single approach influenced the acquisition and use of PrEP information by KPs. Only about 50% of the KPs were aware of HIVST services (40% FSWs and 60% MSM), although this proportion varied across the geographic locations. The factors that enabled the acquisition and use of the prevention commodities were cross-cutting and included previous or current role as peer educator, integration of the messages, peer networking, multi-lingual and multi-channel presentation, use of job aids and reminders. KPs expressed the need for information on how to take PrEP, eligibility, clarification on differences between PrEP and PEP, clarification on any side effects, pricing, for PrEP, price, efficacy, sales point, dosage, available brands. A scale-up of the research across all geopolitical zones and a survey to quantify the prevalence would help in understanding the dynamics and prioritization of interventions for scaling up PrEP and HIVST services in Nigeria. ConclusionsThe policy actors should consider the preferences of the KPs and key influencers in reducing barriers to communication and increasing the uptake of PrEP and HIVST services, and ensure it is reflected in a tailored communication strategy. Since multi-linguistics and multi-channels of presentation were enablers to acquiring PrEP and HIVST messages, the communications strategy for HIV prevention should incorporate these recommendations and adapt to context-specific approaches for effective messaging.

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“…The findings suggest that the dissemination of PrEP and HIVST messages will require a targeted and disaggregated audience. Hence, content should consider the preferences of the KP groups for effective and sustainable impacts [ 20 , 21 ]. Emphasis should be on the specific channels that best attract the attention of the KP groups in dispelling misconceptions, stigma, discrimination, fears, and other barriers that may be contextual to increase the acquisition and use of PrEP and HIVST messages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From this study, KPs can effectively network to increase awareness and access to PrEP and HIVST services in Nigeria, as applied to other settings [ 20 , 21 ]. That is quite encouraging considering the importance of peer influence in producing multiplier effects in behaviours.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communication needs for improved uptake of PrEP and HIVST services among key populations in Nigeria: a mixed-method study

et al. 2021

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Background World Health Organization (WHO) reports that people who indulge in risky behaviours such as penile-anal sex, unprotected intercourse, multiple sex partners, and alcohol and illicit drugs are at risk of HIV/AIDS and classified as Key Populations (KPs). Since the introduction of PrEP and HIVST for the key population groups in Nigeria, government entities and implementing partners have used a range of channels in messaging these essential services across to the target groups—ranging from in-person, social media, television, and radio adverts. Yet, few successes have been documented, thereby necessitating the need to understand the enabling facilitators, barriers to, and communication needs of the KP groups in messaging PrEP and HIVST services in Nigeria. Communicating PrEP and HIVST services will empower the key populations to seek available HIV prevention services and help to increase access to HIV testing services in Nigeria. Methods This study was a mixed-method cross-sectional design; involving 1169 participants from the key populations in Nigeria. The study used a survey and qualitative exploratory methods (interviews and focus group discussion), to collect data from the participants—MSM, FSWs, and key influencers of the KP groups (health providers, peer educators, HIV program officers). In August 2020, data collection was conducted using an open data kit (ODK). Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 for descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed using deductive and thematic analysis based on the codebook. Results The KPs were mainly urban dwellers (77.7%), and the majority of the participants were between 18 to 28 years (89.3%). However, the MSM group was of a younger population compared to the FSWs. A majority completed secondary education (56.1% FSWs and 43.5% MSM). The MSM group showed more tendency to acquire higher education compared to the FSWs. For example, about 51.3% of the MSM group were undergraduates compared to 9.5% of the FSWs. The majority of the KPs were self-employed (56.4% FSWs and 40% MSM). Only about 51% of the KPs were aware of PrEP, with typological variations (39.9% FSWs and 62.3% MSM). MSM group in Lagos (82.5%) were more aware of PrEP services, than 53.1% and 54.5% in A/Ibom (53.1%) and C/River (54.5%). Among the enablers to acquiring PrEP information was the ability of the KPs to network within their communities and on personal relationships. Evidence shows that no single approach influenced the acquisition and use of PrEP information by KPs. Although this proportion varied across the geographic locations, only about 50% of the KPs were aware of HIVST services (40% FSWs and 60% MSM). The factors that enabled the acquisition and use of the prevention commodities were cross-cutting, including a previous or current role as a peer educator, integration of the messages, peer networking, multi-lingual and multi-channel presentation, job aids, and reminders. KPs expressed the need for information on how to take PrEP, eligibility, clarification on differences between PrEP and PEP, clarification on any side effects, for PrEP, price, efficacy, sales point, dosage, available brands. A scale-up of the research across all geopolitical zones and a survey to quantify the prevalence would help understand the dynamics and prioritization of interventions for scaling up PrEP and HIVST services in Nigeria. Conclusions The study documented barriers and facilitators to the uptake of PrEP and HIVST among key populations in Nigeria. It highlighted that KPs are willing to receive PrEP and HIVST messages. The policy actors should consider the preferences of the KPs and the key influencers in reducing barriers to communication and increasing the uptake of PrEP and HIVST services; ensure it reflects in a tailored communication strategy. Since multi-linguistics and multi-channels of presentation were enablers to acquiring PrEP and HIVST messages, the communications strategy for HIV prevention should incorporate these recommendations and adapt to context-specific approaches for effective messaging.

show abstract

Level of knowledge, acceptability, and willingness to use oral fluid HIV self-testing among medical students in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Cited by 18 publications

References 58 publications

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions about HIV self-testing amongst college students in Namibia

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions about HIV self-testing amongst college students in Namibia

Communication Needs for Improved Uptake of Prep and HIVST Services Among Key Populations in Nigeria: A Mixed-Method Study

Communication needs for improved uptake of PrEP and HIVST services among key populations in Nigeria: a mixed-method study

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