Dlamini Celiwe Z, Boersema Geertien C, van Rensburg Gisela H
Department of Health Studies, College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
Health SA. 2025 Jul 31;30:2986. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v30i0.2986. eCollection 2025.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) self-testing (HIVST) expands access to HIV diagnosis and holds potential for reaching high-risk and hard-to-reach populations. In Eswatini, HIV counsellors play a key role in providing HIVST, yet their knowledge and attitudes towards HIVST remain underexplored.
This study aimed to explore the knowledge and attitudes of HIV counsellors in offering HIVST as a strategy to enhance targeted HIV services in Eswatini.
The study was conducted at the outpatient department of a regional hospital in Manzini, Eswatini.
A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research design was used. HIV counsellors were sampled using all-inclusive sampling. Individual, face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 HIV counsellors. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were thematically analysed.
HIV counsellors demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of their roles and responsibilities in delivering HIVST and expressed generally positive attitudes towards this testing approach. Recommendations were made for improving HIVST.
The findings highlight the need for policymakers to prioritise the continuous professional development of HIV counsellors and equip them with strategies including mobile testing units and community-based HIVST distribution to reach marginalised high-risk populations within their specific area. Service delivery should integrate effective client feedback systems to improve HIVST, a continuously available support contact line, and government commitment to ensure consistent HIVST kit supplies to prevent disruptions in service delivery.
This study describes HIV counsellors in Eswatini's knowledge and attitudes towards HIVST in Eswatini.
人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）自我检测（HIVST）扩大了HIV诊断的可及性，对于覆盖高危人群和难以接触到的人群具有潜力。在斯威士兰，HIV咨询员在提供HIVST方面发挥着关键作用，但他们对HIVST的知识和态度仍未得到充分探索。
本研究旨在探讨HIV咨询员在提供HIVST方面的知识和态度，将其作为加强斯威士兰针对性HIV服务的一项策略。
本研究在斯威士兰曼齐尼一家地区医院的门诊部进行。
采用定性、探索性描述性研究设计。使用全纳抽样对HIV咨询员进行抽样。对13名HIV咨询员进行了个人面对面的半结构化访谈。访谈进行了录音和转录。对数据进行了主题分析。
HIV咨询员对他们在提供HIVST方面的角色和职责表现出全面的理解，并对这种检测方法普遍持积极态度。提出了改进HIVST的建议。
研究结果凸显了政策制定者需要优先考虑HIV咨询员的持续专业发展，并为他们配备包括移动检测单位和基于社区的HIVST分发等策略，以覆盖其特定区域内被边缘化的高危人群。服务提供应整合有效的客户反馈系统以改进HIVST，一条持续可用的支持热线，以及政府确保持续供应HIVST检测试剂盒以防止服务中断的承诺。
本研究描述了斯威士兰HIV咨询员对HIVST的知识和态度。
