Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), Kigali, Rwanda.
Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland.
BMC Infect Dis. 2021 Oct 14;21(1):1064. doi: 10.1186/s12879-021-06773-6.
In 2018, Rwanda launched a 5-year hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination plan as per the World Health Organization global targets to eliminate HCV by 2030. To improve awareness of HCV status, strategies are needed to ensure easy access to HCV testing by as-yet unreached populations. HCV-self-testing, an innovative strategy, could further increase HCV testing uptake. This assessment explores perceptions around HCV self-testing among members of the public and healthcare workers in Rwanda.
A qualitative study was undertaken in Masaka District Hospital, comprising individual interviews, group interviews and participatory action research (PAR) activities. Purposive and snowball sampling methods guided the selection of informants. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the findings.
The participants comprised 36 members of the public and 36 healthcare workers. Informants appreciated HCV self-testing as an innovative means of increasing access to HCV testing, as well as an opportunity to test privately and subsequently autonomously decide whether to seek further HCV care. Informants further highlighted the need to make HCV self-testing services free of charge at the nearest health facility. Disadvantages identified included the lack of pre/post-test counselling, as well as the potential psychosocial harm which may result from the use of HCV self-testing.
HCV self-testing is perceived to be an acceptable method to increase HCV testing in Rwanda. Further research is needed to assess the impact of HCV self-testing on HCV cascade of care outcomes.
2018 年，卢旺达按照世界卫生组织到 2030 年消除丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）的全球目标，启动了一项为期 5 年的 HCV 消除计划。为了提高 HCV 感染状况的知晓率，需要采取策略，确保尚未接触 HCV 的人群能够方便地接受 HCV 检测。HCV 自我检测作为一种创新策略，可以进一步提高 HCV 检测的参与度。本评估探讨了卢旺达公众和医疗保健工作者对 HCV 自我检测的看法。
在马萨卡区医院进行了一项定性研究，包括个人访谈、小组访谈和参与式行动研究（PAR）活动。采用目的抽样和滚雪球抽样方法选择受访者。所有参与者均获得了知情同意。采用主题分析方法对研究结果进行分析。
参与者包括 36 名公众和 36 名医疗保健工作者。受访者认为 HCV 自我检测是增加 HCV 检测机会的一种创新手段，也是私下检测并随后自主决定是否寻求进一步 HCV 护理的机会。受访者还强调，需要在最近的卫生机构免费提供 HCV 自我检测服务。确定的缺点包括缺乏检测前后咨询，以及使用 HCV 自我检测可能带来的潜在心理社会危害。
HCV 自我检测被认为是增加卢旺达 HCV 检测的一种可接受方法。需要进一步研究来评估 HCV 自我检测对 HCV 护理流程结果的影响。
