Social Aspects of Health Across the Life Course, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Wakiso, Uganda
Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
BMJ Open. 2022 May 27;12(5):e059340. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059340.
HIV self-testing (HIVST) across sub-Saharan African countries may be acceptable as it overcomes significant barriers to clinic-based HIV testing services such as privacy and confidentiality. There are a number of suggested HIVST distribution models. However, they may not be responsive to the testing service needs of adolescents and young people (AYP). We will investigate the knowledge, acceptability and social implications of a peer-to-peer distribution model of HIVST kits on uptake of HIV prevention including pre-exposure prophylaxis, condoms, and voluntary medical male circumcision and testing services and linkage to anti-retroviral therapy among AYP aged 15-24 in Zambia and Uganda.
We will conduct an exploratory mixed methods study among AYP aged 15-24 in Uganda and Zambia. Qualitative data will be collected using audio-recorded in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and participant observations. All IDIs and FGDs will be transcribed verbatim, coded and analysed through a thematic-content analysis. The quantitative data will be collected through a structured survey questionnaire derived from the preliminary findings of the qualitative work and programme evaluation quantitative data collected on uptake of services from a Zambian trial. The quantitative phase will evaluate the number of AYP reached and interested in HIVST and the implication of this on household social relations and social harms. The quantitative data will be analysed through bivariate analyses. The study will explore any social-cultural and study design barriers or facilitators to uptake of HIVST.
This study is approved by the Uganda Virus Research Institute Research and Ethics committee, Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, University of Zambia Biomedical Ethics Committee, Zambia National Health Research Authority and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Dissemination activities will involve publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at conferences and stakeholder meetings in the communities.
在撒哈拉以南非洲国家，艾滋病毒自检（HIVST）可能是可以接受的，因为它克服了基于诊所的艾滋病毒检测服务的一些重大障碍，如隐私和保密性。有许多建议的 HIVST 分发模式。然而，它们可能无法满足青少年和年轻人（AYP）的检测服务需求。我们将研究通过同伴分发 HIVST 试剂盒对艾滋病预防（包括暴露前预防、避孕套、自愿医疗男性包皮环切术和检测服务）的影响，以及在赞比亚和乌干达 15-24 岁的 AYP 中与抗逆转录病毒治疗的联系。
我们将在乌干达和赞比亚的 15-24 岁的 AYP 中进行一项探索性混合方法研究。定性数据将通过录音的深入访谈（IDIs）、焦点小组讨论（FGDs）和参与者观察收集。所有 IDIs 和 FGDs 将逐字转录、编码，并通过主题内容分析进行分析。定量数据将通过从定性工作的初步结果和从赞比亚试验中收集的方案评估定量数据派生的结构化调查问卷收集。定量阶段将评估有多少 AYP 对 HIVST 感兴趣，并探讨这对家庭社会关系和社会危害的影响。定量数据将通过双变量分析进行分析。该研究将探索任何社会文化和研究设计障碍或促进因素对 HIVST 的采用。
这项研究得到了乌干达病毒研究所研究和伦理委员会、乌干达国家科学技术委员会、赞比亚大学生物医学伦理委员会、赞比亚国家卫生研究管理局和伦敦卫生与热带医学学院的批准。传播活动将包括在同行评议的期刊上发表文章、在会议上发表演讲以及在社区的利益相关者会议上发表演讲。
