Cordingley Olivia, McCrimmon Tara, West Brooke S, Darisheva Meruyert, Primbetova Sholpan, Terlikbaeva Assel, Gilbert Louisa, El-Bassel Nabila, Frye Victoria
School of Social Work, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY, USA.
Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
Res Soc Work Pract. 2023 Mar;33(3):296-304. doi: 10.1177/10497315221128594. Epub 2022 Oct 9.
PURPOSE: Women engaged in sex work (WESW) who use drugs face barriers to HIV testing. HIV self-testing (HST) may empower sex workers to learn their HIV status; however, it is not scaled up among WESW in Kazakhstan. This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to traditional HIV testing and HST among this population. METHOD: We conducted 30 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and four focus groups (FGs) with Kazakhstani WESW who use drugs. Pragmatic analysis was used to explore key themes from qualitative data. RESULTS: Participants welcomed HST due to its potential to overcome logistical challenges by accessing HIV testing, as well as the stigma that WESW faces in traditional HIV testing. Participants desired emotional and social support for HST, and for linkage to HIV care and other services. DISCUSSION: HST among women who exchange sex and use drugs can be successfully implemented to mitigate stigma and barriers to HIV testing.
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