Hazel Ann Moore1, Carol A Metcalf1, Tali Cassidy1,2, Damian Hacking1, Amir Shroufi3, Sarah Jane Steele3, Laura Trivino Duran3, Tom Ellman4. 1. Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha Project, Cape Town, South Africa. 2. Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. 3. Médecins Sans Frontières, Cape Town, South Africa. 4. Southern Africa Medical Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, Cape Town, South Africa.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: HIV self-testing (HIVST) offers a useful addition to HIV testing services and enables individuals to test privately. Despite recommendations to the contrary, repeat HIV testing is frequent among people already on anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and there are concerns that oral self-testing might lead to false negative results. A study was conducted in Khayelitsha, South Africa, to assess feasibility and uptake of HIVST and linkage-to-care following HIVST. METHODS: Participants were recruited at two health facilities from 1 March 2016 to 31 March 2017. People under 18 years, or with self-reported previously-diagnosed HIV infection, were excluded. Participants received an OraQuick Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody kit, and reported their HIVST results by pre-paid text message (SMS) or by returning to the facility. Those not reporting within 7 days were contacted by phone. Electronic and paper-based clinical and laboratory records were retrospectively examined for all participants to identify known HIV outcomes, after matching for name, date of birth, and sex. These findings were compared with self-reported HIVST results where available. RESULTS: Of 639 participants, 401 (62.8%) self-reported a negative HIVST result, 27 (4.2%) a positive result, and 211 (33.0%) did not report. The record search identified that of the 401 participants self-reporting a negative HIVST result, 19 (4.7%) were already known to be HIV positive; of the 27 self-reporting positive, 12 (44%) were known HIV positive. Overall, records showed 57/639 (8.9%) were HIV positive of whom 39/57 (68.4%) had previously-diagnosed infection and 18/57 (31.6%) newly-diagnosed infection. Of the 428 participants who self-reported a result, 366 (85.5%) reported by SMS. CONCLUSIONS: HIVST can improve HIV testing uptake and linkage to care. SMS is acceptable for reporting HIVST results but negative self-reports by participants may be unreliable. Use of HIVST by individuals on ART is frequent despite recommendations to the contrary and its implications need further consideration.
INTRODUCTION: HIV self-testing (HIVST) offers a useful addition to HIV testing services and enables individuals to test privately. Despite recommendations to the contrary, repeat HIV testing is frequent among people already on anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and there are concerns that oral self-testing might lead to false negative results. A study was conducted in Khayelitsha, South Africa, to assess feasibility and uptake of HIVST and linkage-to-care following HIVST. METHODS:Participants were recruited at two health facilities from 1 March 2016 to 31 March 2017. People under 18 years, or with self-reported previously-diagnosed HIV infection, were excluded. Participants received an OraQuick Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody kit, and reported their HIVST results by pre-paid text message (SMS) or by returning to the facility. Those not reporting within 7 days were contacted by phone. Electronic and paper-based clinical and laboratory records were retrospectively examined for all participants to identify known HIV outcomes, after matching for name, date of birth, and sex. These findings were compared with self-reported HIVST results where available. RESULTS: Of 639 participants, 401 (62.8%) self-reported a negative HIVST result, 27 (4.2%) a positive result, and 211 (33.0%) did not report. The record search identified that of the 401 participants self-reporting a negative HIVST result, 19 (4.7%) were already known to be HIV positive; of the 27 self-reporting positive, 12 (44%) were known HIV positive. Overall, records showed 57/639 (8.9%) were HIV positive of whom 39/57 (68.4%) had previously-diagnosed infection and 18/57 (31.6%) newly-diagnosed infection. Of the 428 participants who self-reported a result, 366 (85.5%) reported by SMS. CONCLUSIONS: HIVST can improve HIV testing uptake and linkage to care. SMS is acceptable for reporting HIVST results but negative self-reports by participants may be unreliable. Use of HIVST by individuals on ART is frequent despite recommendations to the contrary and its implications need further consideration.
Authors: Kevin P Delaney; Bernard M Branson; Apurva Uniyal; Peter R Kerndt; Patrick A Keenan; Krishna Jafa; Ann D Gardner; Denise J Jamieson; Marc Bulterys Journal: AIDS Date: 2006-08-01 Impact factor: 4.177
Authors: Nathan Georgette; Mark J Siedner; Brian Zanoni; Thobekile Sibaya; Carter R Petty; Stephen Carpenter; Jessica E Haberer Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2016-11
Authors: Stephen C Davies; Andrew Koh; Heather E Lindsay; Richard B Fulton; Suran L Fernando Journal: Int J STD AIDS Date: 2016-08-18 Impact factor: 1.359
Authors: Khangelani Zuma; Olive Shisana; Thomas M Rehle; Leickness C Simbayi; Sean Jooste; Nompumelelo Zungu; Demetre Labadarios; Dorina Onoya; Meredith Evans; Sizulu Moyo; Fareed Abdullah Journal: Afr J AIDS Res Date: 2016 Impact factor: 1.300
Authors: Augustine T Choko; Peter MacPherson; Emily L Webb; Barbara A Willey; Helena Feasy; Rodrick Sambakunsi; Aaron Mdolo; Simon D Makombe; Nicola Desmond; Richard Hayes; Hendramoorthy Maheswaran; Elizabeth L Corbett Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2015-09-08 Impact factor: 11.069
Authors: Kate S Wilson; Cyrus Mugo; David A Katz; Vivianne Manyeki; Carol Mungwala; Lilian Otiso; David Bukusi; R Scott McClelland; Jane M Simoni; Matt Driver; Sarah Masyuko; Irene Inwani; Pamela K Kohler Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2021-09-01
Authors: Akeen Hamilton; Noah Thompson; Augustine T Choko; Mbuzeleni Hlongwa; Pauline Jolly; Jeffrey E Korte; Donaldson F Conserve Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2021-02-19
Authors: Katia Giguère; Jeffrey W Eaton; Kimberly Marsh; Leigh F Johnson; Cheryl C Johnson; Eboi Ehui; Andreas Jahn; Ian Wanyeki; Francisco Mbofana; Fidèle Bakiono; Mary Mahy; Mathieu Maheu-Giroux Journal: Lancet HIV Date: 2021-03-02 Impact factor: 12.767
Authors: Marianne Boisvert Moreau; Frédéric D Kintin; Septime Atchekpe; Georges Batona; Luc Béhanzin; Fernand A Guédou; Marie-Pierre Gagnon; Michel Alary Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-03-26 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Damian Hacking; Tali Cassidy; Tom Ellman; Sarah Jane Steele; Hazel Ann Moore; Elkin Bermudez-Aza; Xoliswa Nxiba; Eleanor Sopili; Laura Trivino Duran Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2022-03-02
Authors: Vanessa Quan; Sandra Toro-Silva; Charlotte Sriruttan; Verushka Chetty; Violet Chihota; Sophie Candfield; Anna Vassall; Alison D Grant; Nelesh P Govender Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-12-12 Impact factor: 3.240