Evaluating the acceptability of implementing an HIV self-testing
Since 2009, the GLI and partners have successfully produced music festivals in a campaign aimed at increasing HIV knowledge, status awareness, and adherence to treatment among rural and hard-to-reach communities in East Africa.
Dr. David Kaawa-Mafigiri
Rumbi Anne Gumbie
Sebastian Ditten
Dr. Geoffrey Anguyo
Jamie Van Leeuwen
Andrew Nangoli
Ronald Tumusime
Background
Current testing models require individuals to travel long distances to local healthcare centers to receive tests, but due to prohibitive costs, a shortage of health workers, and stigma that has discouraged travel to healthcare facilities, many at-risk individuals are unable to receive necessary testing. Creative outreach is therefore needed to maintain access to HIV testing services.
This study aims to evaluate the acceptability of a framework to enable distribution of HIV self-tests (HIV-ST) to persons requesting testing services using a novel mobile health (Health) application named ¡Test. ¡Test connects individuals to trained delivery agents such as traditional healers and community health workers working with motorcycle taxi 'boda boda' drivers. These delivery agents deliver HIV-STs to testers' homes, potentially reducing the stigma and transportation costs associated with current testing models. GLI researchers will test the intervention innovation by holding focus group discussions with key stakeholders in rural Uganda to evaluate its efficacy to increase uptake of HIV-ST among key populations and underserved communities.
