Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) Partnership, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
The University of Edinburgh Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, Edinburgh, UK.
BMJ Open. 2024 Nov 24;14(11):e085391. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085391.
The widespread adoption of self-testing for SARS-CoV-2 has proven effective in curbing the virus' spread, particularly in Western countries. However, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding the feasibility, acceptance and factors influencing the uptake of self-testing in low-resource areas, notably rural Africa. Our aim was to assess the willingness and capability of rural Zimbabwean participants to self-diagnose COVID-19 using rapid lateral flow tests (LFTs) and adhere to post-positive test guidelines. Additionally, we aimed to identify barriers to self-testing uptake and reasons for non-compliance with follow-up actions.
We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Shamva District, Zimbabwe.
A total of 120 villagers aged 18 years and above participated. We employed a questionnaire to gather data on participants' attitudes towards self-testing for SARS-CoV-2 using LFTs, along with their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding COVID-19. included the likelihood of self-testing, the ability and accuracy of self-testing, adherence to post-test guidelines and socio-demographic factors influencing these responses.
Among the 120 participants, 108 (90%) expressed willingness to use LFTs for self-testing. The subset unwilling to self-test belonged to a religious sect historically opposed to Western medicine. All self-tests yielded valid results, as confirmed by the appearance of control lines on the LFT. Participants demonstrated the ability to interpret their results accurately without assistance and expressed willingness to adhere to post-test guidelines. Questionnaire responses indicated a preference for self-testing due to its ease, lack of pain, convenience and confidentiality. Moreover, participants exhibited a high level of knowledge about COVID-19.
This study underscores the acceptability and feasibility of SARS-CoV-2 LFT self-testing in rural settings, suggesting its potential as an additional public health measure for epidemics and pandemics in low-resource areas.
在西方国家，广泛采用 SARS-CoV-2 自我检测已被证明能有效遏制病毒传播。然而，在资源匮乏地区，尤其是在农村非洲，关于自我检测的可行性、接受程度以及影响其采用的因素，仍存在显著的知识差距。我们旨在评估津巴布韦农村地区参与者使用快速侧向流动检测（LFT）自我诊断 COVID-19 的意愿和能力，并遵守阳性检测后指导方针。此外，我们旨在确定自我检测采用的障碍以及不遵守后续行动的原因。
我们在津巴布韦 Shamva 区进行了一项横断面调查。
共有 120 名年龄在 18 岁及以上的村民参与。我们采用问卷收集参与者对使用 LFT 进行 SARS-CoV-2 自我检测的态度数据，以及他们对 COVID-19 的知识、态度和实践。问卷包括自我检测的可能性、自我检测的能力和准确性、遵守检测后指导方针以及影响这些反应的社会人口因素。
在 120 名参与者中，有 108 名（90%）表示愿意使用 LFT 进行自我检测。不愿意自我检测的参与者属于一个历史上反对西医的宗教教派。所有的自我检测结果均为有效，LFT 上的控制线出现证实了这一点。参与者无需帮助即可准确解读检测结果，并表示愿意遵守检测后指导方针。问卷调查结果表明，参与者更喜欢自我检测，因为它方便、无痛、方便且保密。此外，参与者对 COVID-19 具有很高的知识水平。
这项研究强调了在农村地区进行 SARS-CoV-2 LFT 自我检测的可接受性和可行性，表明其可能成为资源匮乏地区流行和大流行的额外公共卫生措施。
