School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Phipps 540, 600 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21286, USA.
BMC Public Health. 2021 May 27;21(1):1002. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11041-y.
Men in Sub-Saharan Africa are less engaged than women in accessing HIV testing and treatment and, consequently, experience higher HIV-related mortality. Reaching men with HIV testing services is challenging, thus, increasing the need for innovative ways to engage men with low access and those at higher risk. In this study, we explore men's perceptions of drivers and barriers of workplace-based HIV self-testing in Uganda.
An exploratory study involving men working in private security companies employing more than 50 men in two districts, in central and western Uganda. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.
Forty-eight (48) men from eight private security companies participated in 5 focus group discussions and 17 key informant interviews. Of the 48 men, 14(29.2%) were ages 26-35 years. The majority 31(64.6%) were security guards. The drivers reported for workplace-based HIV self-testing included convenience, autonomy, positive influence from work colleagues, the need for alternative access for HIV testing services, incentives, and involvement of employers. The barriers reported were the prohibitive cost of HIV tests, stigma, lack of testing support, the fear of discrimination and isolation, and concerns around decreased work productivity in the event of a reactive self-test.
We recommend the involvement of employers in workplace-based HIV self-testing to encourage participation by employees. There is need for HIV self-testing support both during and after the testing process. Both employers and employees recommend the use of non-monetary incentives, and regular training about HIV self-testing to increase the uptake and acceptability of HIV testing services at the workplace.
撒哈拉以南非洲的男性参与艾滋病病毒检测和治疗的程度低于女性，因此，他们面临更高的与艾滋病病毒相关的死亡率。由于难以接触到男性接受艾滋病病毒检测服务，因此需要创新的方法来吸引那些获得艾滋病病毒检测服务机会较低和感染风险较高的男性。在这项研究中，我们探讨了乌干达男性对基于工作场所的艾滋病病毒自我检测的驱动因素和障碍的看法。
这是一项探索性研究，涉及在乌干达中部和西部两个地区的八家私人保安公司工作的男性，这些公司雇用的男性超过 50 人。进行了焦点小组讨论和关键知情人访谈。使用归纳内容分析法对数据进行分析。
来自八家私人保安公司的 48 名男性参加了 5 次焦点小组讨论和 17 次关键知情人访谈。48 名男性中，14 名（29.2%）年龄在 26-35 岁之间。大多数（64.6%）是保安。基于工作场所的艾滋病病毒自我检测的驱动因素包括便利性、自主性、工作同事的积极影响、对替代艾滋病病毒检测服务的需求、激励措施和雇主的参与。报告的障碍包括艾滋病检测费用过高、耻辱感、缺乏检测支持、对歧视和孤立的恐惧、以及对自我检测呈阳性时工作效率下降的担忧。
我们建议雇主参与基于工作场所的艾滋病病毒自我检测，以鼓励员工参与。需要在检测过程中和检测后提供艾滋病自我检测支持。雇主和员工都建议使用非货币激励措施，并定期进行艾滋病自我检测培训，以提高工作场所接受艾滋病病毒检测服务的比例和接受度。
