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Beckham S, Karver TS, Mantsios A, Shembilu C, Donastorg Y, Perez M, Gomez H, Barrington C, Mwampashi A, Davis W, Likindikoki S, Mbwambo JK, Kerrigan D. Acceptability and perceptions of HIV oral self-testing across settings: A comparative qualitative study among Dominican and Tanzanian female sex workers. Glob Public Health 2022; 17:870-884. [PMID: 33736565 PMCID: PMC8449797 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2021.1901129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Rapid oral HIV self-tests (HIVST) have potential to increase the proportion of people who know their HIV status, especially among stigmatised populations. This study was embedded in two cohorts of female sex workers (FSW) in the Dominican Republic (DR) and Tanzania. Qualitative interviews with 40 FSW were conducted to explore perceived acceptability of HIVST. Interviews were analysed using inductive and deductive thematic coding. Emergent themes were organised by socio-ecological framework levels. FSW in both settings responded positively to the ease of use of HIVST but questioned test accuracy due to the use of saliva rather than blood. FSW in the DR had a more cautious response, while women in Tanzania had favourable perceptions expressing eagerness to use it. At the individual level, themes shaping participants' interest included autonomy, HIV risk perception, and emotional well-being for those with reactive test results, and self-efficacy. At the interpersonal level, privacy, confidentiality, sex work and HIV stigma and social support were salient. Structural level themes focused on health systems including linkages to HIV treatment, provider roles, and access (cost, travel, distribution). Understanding FSW's perceptions and acceptability of HIVST is essential to its integration into health systems and programmes using a community-driven approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- S.Wilson Beckham
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tahilin S. Karver
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Catherine Shembilu
- Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Yeycy Donastorg
- Instituto Dominicano de Dermatologia y Cirugia de Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Maria Perez
- Instituto Dominicano de Dermatologia y Cirugia de Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Hoisex Gomez
- Instituto Dominicano de Dermatologia y Cirugia de Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Clare Barrington
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ardi Mwampashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Wendy Davis
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Samuel Likindikoki
- Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jessie K. Mbwambo
- Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Deanna Kerrigan
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
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Fajardo E, Watson V, Kumwenda M, Usharidze D, Gogochashvili S, Kakhaberi D, Giguashvili A, Johnson CC, Jamil MS, Dacombe R, Stvilia K, Easterbrook P, Ivanova Reipold E. Usability and acceptability of oral-based HCV self-testing among key populations: a mixed-methods evaluation in Tbilisi, Georgia. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:510. [PMID: 35641908 PMCID: PMC9154030 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07484-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus self-testing (HCVST) is an additional approach that may expand access to HCV testing. We conducted a mixed-methods cross-sectional observational study to assess the usability and acceptability of HCVST among people who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender (TG) people in Tbilisi, Georgia. METHODS The study was conducted from December 2019 to June 2020 among PWID at one harm reduction site and among MSM/TG at one community-based organization. We used a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Usability was assessed by observing errors made and difficulties faced by participants. Acceptability was assessed using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire. A subset of participants participated in cognitive and in-depth interviews. RESULTS A total of 90 PWID, 84 MSM and 6 TG were observed performing HCVST. PWID were older (median age 35 vs 24) and had a lower level of education compared to MSM/TG (27% vs 59%). The proportion of participants who completed all steps successfully without assistance was 60% among PWID and 80% among MSM/TG. The most common error was in sample collection and this was observed more often among PWID than MSM/TG (21% vs 6%; p = 0.002). More PWID requested assistance during HCVST compared to MSM/TG (22% vs 8%; p = 0.011). Acceptability was high in both groups (98% vs 96%; p = 0.407). Inter-reader agreement was 97% among PWID and 99% among MSM/TG. Qualitative data from cognitive (n = 20) and in-depth interviews (n = 20) was consistent with the quantitative data confirming a high usability and acceptability. CONCLUSIONS HCVST was highly acceptable among key populations in Georgia of relatively high educational level, and most participants performed HCVST correctly. A significant difference in usability was observed among PWID compared to MSM/TG, indicating that PWID may benefit from improved messaging and education as well as options to receive direct assistance when self-testing for HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Fajardo
- grid.452485.a0000 0001 1507 3147The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines 9, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Victoria Watson
- grid.48004.380000 0004 1936 9764Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Liverpool, UK
| | - Moses Kumwenda
- grid.419393.50000 0004 8340 2442Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MLW), Blantyre, Malawi ,grid.10595.380000 0001 2113 2211College of Medicine, University of Malawi (CoM), Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | | | - David Kakhaberi
- Community-Based Organization Equality Movement, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Ana Giguashvili
- National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Cheryl C. Johnson
- grid.3575.40000000121633745Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Muhammad S. Jamil
- grid.3575.40000000121633745Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Russell Dacombe
- grid.48004.380000 0004 1936 9764Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Liverpool, UK
| | - Ketevan Stvilia
- National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Philippa Easterbrook
- grid.3575.40000000121633745Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Elena Ivanova Reipold
- grid.452485.a0000 0001 1507 3147The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines 9, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
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Reipold EI, Farahat A, Elbeeh A, Soliman R, Aza EB, Jamil MS, Johnson CC, Shiha G, Easterbrook P. Usability and acceptability of self-testing for hepatitis C virus infection among the general population in the Nile Delta region of Egypt. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1188. [PMID: 34158006 PMCID: PMC8218412 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11169-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Self-testing for hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCVST) may be an additional strategy to expand access to hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and support elimination efforts. We conducted a study to assess the usability and acceptability of HCVST among the general population in a semi-rural, high-HCV prevalence region in Egypt. Methods An observational study was conducted in two hospitals in the Nile Delta region. A trained provider gave an in-person demonstration on how to use the oral fluid HCVST followed by observation of the participant performing the test. Usability was assessed by observing errors made and difficulties faced by participants. Acceptability of HCV self-testing was assessed using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Results Of 116 participants enrolled, 17 (14.6%) had received no formal education. The majority (72%) of participants completed all testing steps without any assistance and interpreted the test results correctly. Agreement between participant-reported HCVST results and interpretation by a trained user was 86%, with a Cohen’s kappa of 0.6. Agreement between participant-reported HCVST results and provider-administered oral fluid HCV rapid test results was 97.2%, with a Cohen’s kappa of 0.75. The majority of participants rated the HCVST process as easy (53%) or very easy (44%), and 96% indicated they would be willing to use HCVST again and recommend it to their family and friends. Conclusion Our study demonstrates the high usability and acceptability of oral fluid HCVST in a general population. Further studies are needed to establish the optimal positioning of self-testing alongside facility-based testing to expand access to HCV diagnosis in both general and high-risk populations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11169-x.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmed Farahat
- Egyptian Liver Research Institute and Hospital (ELRIAH), Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Amira Elbeeh
- Association of Liver Patient Care (ALPC), Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Reham Soliman
- Egyptian Liver Research Institute and Hospital (ELRIAH), Mansoura, Egypt.,Tropical Medicine Department, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt
| | | | - Muhammad S Jamil
- Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cheryl Case Johnson
- Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gamal Shiha
- Egyptian Liver Research Institute and Hospital (ELRIAH), Mansoura, Egypt.,Internal Medicine Department, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Philippa Easterbrook
- Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Conserve DF, Michel J, Adrien Demes JE, Chéry JM, Balan JG, Choko AT, François K, Puttkammer N. Local and national stakeholders' perceptions towards implementing and scaling up HIV self-testing and secondary distribution of HIV self-testing by Option B+ patients as an assisted partner service strategy to reach men in Haiti. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233606. [PMID: 32442226 PMCID: PMC7244176 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV self-testing (HIVST), which allows people to test in private, is an innovative testing strategy that has been shown to increase HIV testing among men. Delivering HIVST kits to men via women is one promising assisted partner service strategy. Little research has been conducted on HIVST secondary distribution to men by women living with HIV (WLWH) in the Caribbean and other settings. The purpose of this study was to assess the perspectives of WLWH, their male partners, and healthcare professionals on the perceived advantages and disadvantages of HIVST, and recommendations for implementing HIVST in Haiti, with a focus on secondary distribution of HIVST to men by WLWH. Sixteen key informant interviews and nine focus groups with 44 healthcare workers, 31 Option B+ clients, and 13 men were carried out in Haiti. Key informants were representatives of the Ministry of Health and of a non-governmental agency involved in HIV partner services. Focus group members included program leads and staff members from the HIV care and treatment program, the Option B+ program, the community health service program, and the HIV counseling and testing services from 2 hospitals. Perceived HIVST advantage included an increase in the number of people who would learn their HIV status and start treatment. The perceived disadvantages were lack of support to ensure self-testers initiate treatment, uncertainty about male partner's reaction, risk of violence towards women delivering HIVST kits after receiving an HIVST kit from a woman, and the inability of women to counsel a man in case his self-test result is positive. Recommendations for integrating HIVST and secondary distribution of HIVST by WLWH included coupling HIVST distribution with public information, education, and communication through media and social marketing, relying on community health workers to mediate use of HIVST and ensure linkage to care, piloting HIVST programs on a small scale. HIVST is an appropriate and feasible strategy HIV prevention for men and women; however, more research is needed on how best to implement different strategies for this approach in the Caribbean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donaldson F. Conserve
- Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jacob Michel
- Family Health International, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | | | - Jean Marcxime Chéry
- Centre Haïtien pour le Renforcement du Système de Santé (CHARESS), Port-au-Prince, Haïti
| | - Jean-Gabriel Balan
- Centre Haïtien pour le Renforcement du Système de Santé (CHARESS), Port-au-Prince, Haïti
| | | | - Kesner François
- Programme National de Lutte contre le SIDA (PNLS), Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP), Port-au-Prince, Haïti
| | - Nancy Puttkammer
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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Hamilton A, Shin S, Taggart T, Whembolua GL, Martin I, Budhwani H, Conserve D. HIV testing barriers and intervention strategies among men, transgender women, female sex workers and incarcerated persons in the Caribbean: a systematic review. Sex Transm Infect 2020; 96:189-196. [PMID: 31506346 PMCID: PMC7062576 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2018-053932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This systematic review summarises evidence on the HIV testing barriers and intervention strategies among Caribbean populations and provides pertinent implications for future research endeavours designed to increase rates of HIV testing in the region. METHODS We used a systematic approach to survey all literature published between January 2008 and November 2018 using four electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Global Health). Only peer-reviewed articles published in English that examined HIV testing uptake and interventions in the Caribbean with men, men who have sex with men, female sex workers, transgender women and incarcerated individuals were included. RESULTS Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Lack of confidentiality, access to testing sites, stigma, discrimination, poverty and low HIV risk perception were identified as key barriers to HIV testing. These barriers often contributed to late HIV testing and were associated with delayed treatment initiation and decreased survival rate. Intervention strategies to address these barriers included offering rapid HIV testing at clinics and HIV testing outreach by trained providers and peers. CONCLUSION HIV testing rates remain unacceptably low across the Caribbean for several reasons, including stigma and discrimination. Future HIV testing interventions should target places where at-risk populations congregate, train laypersons to conduct rapid tests and consider using oral fluid HIV self-testing, which allows individuals to test at home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akeen Hamilton
- Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina System, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Stephen Shin
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Sociology, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Tamara Taggart
- George Washington University, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Washington, DC, USA
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Guy-Lucien Whembolua
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Indira Martin
- Government of the Bahamas Ministry of Health, Nassau, Bahamas
| | - Henna Budhwani
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Donaldson Conserve
- Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina System, Columbia, SC, USA
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Irarrázabal LP, Levy JA, Cianelli R, Norr KF, Issel LM, Pérez CM. Chilean Health Care Providers' Perceived Comfort in Performing Oral Rapid Testing for HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study. HISPANIC HEALTH CARE INTERNATIONAL 2020; 18:191-197. [PMID: 31906721 DOI: 10.1177/1540415319896249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To understand key factors influencing Chilean health care providers' perceived comfort performing oral rapid HIV testing. DESIGN One hundred and fifty health care providers completed a self-administered questionnaire that included a five-item scale measuring self-perceived comfort in conducting HIV pretest counseling, oral rapid testing, finger-prick testing, and delivering test results. RESULTS Most participants (60%) envisioned good overall comfort performing oral rapid HIV testing (mean score of 16.21; range 0-20), including doing at least four of the five steps. They perceived least comfort delivering HIV-positive test results during posttest counseling. HIV stigmatizing attitudes reduced self-perceived comfort. CONCLUSIONS Providing training to counter HIV stigmatization while increasing comfort in performing oral rapid testing would help facilitate its successful implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judith A Levy
- 14681University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rosina Cianelli
- 28033Pontifícia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,14681University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | - Carlos M Pérez
- 28033Pontifícia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Nayak S, Guo T, Lopez-Rios J, Lentz C, Arumugam S, Hughes J, Dolezal C, Linder V, Carballo-Diéguez A, Balán IC, Sia SK. Integrating user behavior with engineering design of point-of-care diagnostic devices: theoretical framework and empirical findings. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:2241-2255. [PMID: 31168548 PMCID: PMC6592761 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00188c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
With point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices becoming increasingly available to untrained users, it will be critical to understand how real-world user behavior can best inform and guide the engineering design process. Social sciences present frameworks for analyzing user behavior, but they have not yet been applied to POC diagnostics in a methodical manner. Here, we develop a framework that synthesizes two models that can collectively account for user behavior and experience with POC diagnostic devices: a social psychological information-motivation-behavior (IMB) model (first described by Fisher and Fisher) for identifying determinants for health-related behavior, and user experience (UX) elements for studying interactions between users and products. Based on studies of 40 naïve users of our smartphone-enabled microfluidics device that can be used for HIV home-testing, we found that untrained participants could perform 90% of steps correctly, with engineering design elements that provided feedback that was either direct (e.g., a light or click) or binary (e.g., a switch) enhancing usability. Interestingly, of the steps performed incorrectly, over 70% were due not to errors in the device or user operation, but user-to-user variability (e.g. time in collecting fingerstick and force applied to initiate vacuum), which could be addressed by further modifications to the device. Overall, this study suggests that microfluidic POC HIV home-testing is likely to benefit from smartphone integration, and that engineering design of POC diagnostic devices can benefit from a structured evaluation of user behavior and experience, as guided by a social-psychological framework, which emphasizes user credibility, accessibility, acceptability, usability, and value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samiksha Nayak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Tiffany Guo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Javier Lopez-Rios
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cody Lentz
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Siddarth Arumugam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Joshua Hughes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Curtis Dolezal
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vincent Linder
- OPKO Diagnostics, LLC, 4 Constitution Way, Suite E, Woburn, MA, USA
| | - Alex Carballo-Diéguez
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Iván C. Balán
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel K. Sia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
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Otiashvili D, Kirtadze I, Vardanashvili I, Tabatadze M, Ober AJ. Perceived acceptability of and willingness to use syringe vending machines: results of a cross-sectional survey of out-of-service people who inject drugs in Tbilisi, Georgia. Harm Reduct J 2019; 16:21. [PMID: 30898120 PMCID: PMC6429706 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-019-0292-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The growing HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has been driven by high rates of injection drug use. The Republic of Georgia has among the highest injection drug use rates globally, with a prevalence of 2.24%. The reach of evidence-based HIV prevention interventions like needle and syringe programs (NSP) among people who inject drugs (PWID) has remained below rates that could significantly impact the epidemic. Syringe vending machines (SVM) are an effective and cost-effective supplement to standard NSP; if acceptable to PWID, SVM could reach hard-to-reach PWID and cover geographic areas where fixed or mobile NSPs do not operate. The aim of this study was to assess the perceived acceptability of SVM among out-of-service (harm reduction or substance use treatment) PWID in Tbilisi, Georgia. Methodology Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to participate in cross-sectional, face-to-face interviews. We conducted individual interviews using a structured questionnaire that covered participants’ socio-demographics, drug use practices, and perceived acceptability of SVM. Uni-variate analyses were employed for data analysis. Results The final sample (n = 149) was almost exclusively male with a mean age of 42.2 years and mean years of injection drug use of 14.4 years. Heroin, buprenorphine, and stimulants were the main drugs injected. Eighty-five percent of the sample had never received any harm reduction services, and 30% had never been tested for HIV. Fifteen percent of the sample reported sharing injection equipment with others during last month. All but one participant agreed that PWID would benefit from SVM and 145 (97%) said they would personally use SVM. Ninety percent of those sampled stated that they would use HIV self-tests if available from vending machines. The most highly endorsed features of SVM were provision of free injection equipment, no need to deal with pharmacies, uninterrupted 24/7 access, and availability of HIV self-testing kits. Discussion Perceived acceptability of syringe vending machines was extremely high among PWID not currently receiving any harm reduction or treatment services, with strong support indicated for uninterrupted free access to sterile injection equipment, privacy, and anonymity. Introducing SVM in Georgia holds the potential to deliver significant public health benefits by attracting hard-to-reach PWID, reducing unsafe injection behavior, and contributing to HIV testing uptake and linkage to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Otiashvili
- Addiction Research Centre Alternative Georgia, 14A Nutsubidze Street, Office 2, 0177, Tbilisi, Georgia.
| | - Irma Kirtadze
- Addiction Research Centre Alternative Georgia, 14A Nutsubidze Street, Office 2, 0177, Tbilisi, Georgia.,School of Arts and Sciences, Ilia State University, 3/5 Kakutsa Cholokashvili Ave., 0162, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Irina Vardanashvili
- School of Arts and Sciences, Ilia State University, 3/5 Kakutsa Cholokashvili Ave., 0162, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Mzia Tabatadze
- Addiction Research Centre Alternative Georgia, 14A Nutsubidze Street, Office 2, 0177, Tbilisi, Georgia.,School of Business, Ilia State University, 3/5 Kakutsa Cholokashvili Ave., 0162, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Allison J Ober
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA, 90407-2138, USA
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Guillon G, Yearwood G, Snipes C, Boschi D, Reed MR. Human anti-HIV IgM detection by the OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4430. [PMID: 29507828 PMCID: PMC5834934 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and many public health jurisdictions continue to advocate for the most sensitive rapid HIV test that is available. Currently, the recommendation is to utilize tests that can detect HIV infection biomarkers within 30 days of infection, when initial immune responses are mounted. The infected patient's IgM response is often used to detect acute infection within a 20-25 days window after infection. This requirement applies to lab-based testing with automated analyzers and rapid, point of care (POC) testing used for screening in a non-clinical setting. A recent study has demonstrated that POC tests using a Protein A-based detection system can detect samples with predominantly HIV-1 IgM reactivity (Moshgabadi et al., 2015). The OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test (OraQuick ADVANCE®) also uses Protein A as the detection protein in the antibody-binding colloidal gold conjugate, so it is expected that the OraQuick ADVANCE® Test will also detect samples with predominantly IgM reactivity. This report definitively demonstrates that the OraQuick ADVANCE® Test can detect IgM antibodies during an acute infection window period of approximately 20-25 days after infection, and is therefore suitable for use in testing environments requiring adherence to current CDC recommendations.
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