"They have given you the morale and confidence:" adolescents and young adults want more community-based oral HIV self-testing options in Kenya

"They have given you the morale and confidence:" adolescents and young adults want more community-based oral HIV self-testing options in Kenya

Community-based delivery of oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) may expand access to testing among adolescents and young adults (AYA). Eliciting youth perspectives can help to optimize these services. We conducted nine focus group discussions (FGDs) with HIV negative AYA aged 15-24 who had completed oral...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIDS care Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 392 - 398
Main Authors: Lapsley, Robert, Beima-Sofie, Kristin, Moraa, Hellen, Manyeki, Vivianne, Mung'ala, Carol, Kohler, Pamela K., Simoni, Jane M., Farquhar, Carey, Inwani, Irene, Scott McClelland, R., Otiso, Lilian, Masyuko, Sarah, Bukusi, David, Wilson, Kate S.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Taylor & Francis 04-03-2023
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:
Access
Adolescent
Adolescent HIV
Adolescents
Adults
Age composition
Autonomy
Behavior change
Community
Condoms
HIV
HIV Infections - diagnosis
HIV Infections - prevention & control
HIV self-testing
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Kenya
Mass Screening
Medical tests
Morale
Pharmacies
qualitative research
Self Care
Self testing
Teenagers
Tests
Websites
Young Adult
Young adults
Kenya
HIV self-testing
Adolescent HIV
qualitative research
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Summary:Community-based delivery of oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) may expand access to testing among adolescents and young adults (AYA). Eliciting youth perspectives can help to optimize these services. We conducted nine focus group discussions (FGDs) with HIV negative AYA aged 15-24 who had completed oral HIVST following community-based distribution through homes, pharmacies, and bars. FGDs were stratified by distribution point and age (15-17, 18-24). Participants valued HIVST because it promoted greater autonomy and convenience compared to traditional clinic-based testing. AYA noted how HIVST could encourage positive behavior change, including using condoms to remain HIV negative. Participants recommended that future testing strategies include individualized, ongoing support during and after testing. Support examples included access to trained peer educators, multiple community-based distribution points, and post-test support via phones and websites. Multiple distribution points and trained peer educators' involvement in all steps of distribution, testing, and follow-up can enhance future community-based HIVST programs.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0954-0121
1360-0451
DOI:10.1080/09540121.2022.2067315