Department of Sociology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
FIND, the Global Alliance for Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland.
PLoS One. 2023 Apr 13;18(4):e0282570. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282570. eCollection 2023.
COVID-19 testing coverage is limited in Nigeria. Access to rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection self-testing kits may help improve the detection of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic cases and increase the country's low rate of SARS-CoV-2 testing. Before implementing self-testing in Nigeria, assessing the population's perceptions regarding this approach is imperative. In mid-2021, an exploratory cross-sectional qualitative research was conducted to investigate stakeholders' values and preferences for SARS-CoV-2 self-testing in Nigeria.
In-person and online semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with healthcare workers, representatives of civil society, and potential implementors of self-testing delivery programs were used to explore values and perceptions around access to conventional provider-initiated COVID-19 testing. Topics included the public's values in relation to SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, the safe and effective use of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, and likely actions upon receiving a positive SARS-CoV-2 self-test result. A thematic analysis approach was applied.
The 58 informants (29 female) reported that Nigeria has limited availability of conventional provider-delivered SARS-CoV-2 testing. While just a few informants were familiar with SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, they generally supported using self-testing as an approach that they felt could assist with early case detection and improve access to testing. Concerns relating to the use of self-testing mainly related to the ability of low-literate individuals to use and interpret the self-tests, the affordability of self-tests, equity of access, and the availability of healthcare system support for those who self-test positive.
Although the Nigerian public perceive multiple benefits associated with access to SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, the perceived inefficiency of the national health service delivery system may limit the access of users of the kits to psychosocial and clinical support. Nevertheless, in Nigeria, where COVID-19 vaccine coverage is low and the risk of further waves of COVID-19 is high, self-testing may assist in the prompt detection of cases and contribute to halting the spread of the virus.
在尼日利亚，新冠病毒检测的覆盖范围有限。提供快速 SARS-CoV-2 抗原检测自我检测试剂盒可能有助于提高对无症状和轻度症状病例的检测，并提高该国 SARS-CoV-2 检测的低水平。在尼日利亚实施自我检测之前，评估公众对这种方法的看法至关重要。2021 年年中，进行了一项探索性的横断面定性研究，以调查利益相关者对尼日利亚 SARS-CoV-2 自我检测的价值观和偏好。
使用面对面和在线半结构式访谈以及焦点小组讨论，对卫生保健工作者、民间社会代表和自我检测交付计划的潜在实施者进行了访谈，以探讨与常规提供者发起的 COVID-19 检测相关的获取途径。主题包括公众对 SARS-CoV-2 自我检测的价值观、SARS-CoV-2 自我检测的安全有效使用，以及在收到 SARS-CoV-2 自我检测阳性结果时可能采取的行动。采用主题分析方法。
58 名受访者（29 名女性）报告称，尼日利亚常规提供者提供的 SARS-CoV-2 检测有限。虽然只有少数受访者熟悉 SARS-CoV-2 自我检测，但他们普遍支持将自我检测作为一种可以帮助早期发现病例并改善检测机会的方法。与自我检测使用相关的担忧主要与低识字能力的个人使用和解释自我检测的能力、自我检测的可负担性、公平获取机会以及为自我检测阳性者提供医疗系统支持的能力有关。
尽管尼日利亚公众认为获得 SARS-CoV-2 自我检测有多种好处，但国家卫生服务提供系统的效率低下可能会限制试剂盒使用者获得心理社会和临床支持的机会。然而，在尼日利亚，COVID-19 疫苗覆盖率低，COVID-19 再次爆发的风险很高，自我检测可能有助于迅速发现病例，并有助于阻止病毒的传播。
