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Feasibility and acceptability of HIV self-testing among pre-exposure prophylaxis users in Kenya.
- Source :
- Journal of the International AIDS Society; 2/10/2017, Vol. 20, p1-8, 8p, 1 Diagram, 2 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Introduction: HIV testing is key to the delivery of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): testing HIV-uninfected at-risk persons is the first step for PrEP initiation and ongoing HIV testing is an essential part of PrEP delivery. Thus, novel and cost-effective HIV-testing approaches to streamline delivery of PrEP are urgently needed. Within a demonstration project of PrEP for HIV prevention among high-risk HIV serodiscordant couples in Kenya (the Partners Demonstration Project), we conducted a pilot evaluation of HIV self-testing. Methods: Clinic visits were scheduled quarterly and included in-clinic HIV testing using fingerstick rapid HIV tests and refills of PrEP prescriptions. HIV oral fluid self-test kits were provided for participants to use in the two-month interval between scheduled quarterly clinic visits. Acceptability of HIV self-testing was assessed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: We found that 222 of 226 (98%) HIV-uninfected persons who were offered accepted self-testing. Nearly all (96.8%) reported that using the self-testing kit was easy. More than half (54.5%) reportedly did not share the HIV results from selftesting with anyone and almost all (98.7%) the participants did not share the HIV self-testing kits with anyone. Many participants reported that HIV self-testing was empowering and reduced anxiety associated with waiting between clinic HIV tests. Conclusions: HIV self-testing was highly acceptable and may therefore be a feasible strategy to efficiently permit routine HIV testing between PrEP refills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17582652
- Volume :
- 20
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of the International AIDS Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 124987476
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.20.1.21234