Dataset Information

HIV self-testing among female sex workers in Zambia: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:HIV self-testing (HIVST) may play a role in addressing gaps in HIV testing coverage and as an entry point for HIV prevention services. We conducted a cluster randomized trial of 2 HIVST distribution mechanisms compared to the standard of care among female sex workers (FSWs) in Zambia. METHODS AND FINDINGS:Trained peer educators in Kapiri Mposhi, Chirundu, and Livingstone, Zambia, each recruited 6 FSW participants. Peer educator-FSW groups were randomized to 1 of 3 arms: (1) delivery (direct distribution of an oral HIVST from the peer educator), (2) coupon (a coupon for collection of an oral HIVST from a health clinic/pharmacy), or (3) standard-of-care HIV testing. Participants in the 2 HIVST arms received 2 kits: 1 at baseline and 1 at 10 weeks. The primary outcome was any self-reported HIV testing in the past month at the 1- and 4-month visits, as HIVST can replace other types of HIV testing. Secondary outcomes included linkage to care, HIVST use in the HIVST arms, and adverse events. Participants completed questionnaires at 1 and 4 months following peer educator interventions. In all, 965 participants were enrolled between September 16 and October 12, 2016 (delivery, N = 316; coupon, N = 329; standard of care, N = 320); 20% had never tested for HIV. Overall HIV testing at 1 month was 94.9% in the delivery arm, 84.4% in the coupon arm, and 88.5% in the standard-of-care arm (delivery versus standard of care risk ratio [RR] = 1.07, 95% CI 0.99-1.15, P = 0.10; coupon versus standard of care RR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.86-1.05, P = 0.29; delivery versus coupon RR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.22, P = 0.005). Four-month rates were 84.1% for the delivery arm, 79.8% for the coupon arm, and 75.1% for the standard-of-care arm (delivery versus standard of care RR = 1.11, 95% CI 0.98-1.27, P = 0.11; coupon versus standard of care RR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.92-1.22, P = 0.42; delivery versus coupon RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.94-1.18, P = 0.40). At 1 month, the majority of HIV tests were self-tests (88.4%). HIV self-test use was higher in the delivery arm compared to the coupon arm (RR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.23, P = 0.001) at 1 month, but there was no difference at 4 months. Among participants reporting a positive HIV test at 1 (N = 144) and 4 months (N = 235), linkage to care was non-significantly lower in the 2 HIVST arms compared to the standard-of-care arm. There were 4 instances of intimate partner violence related to study participation, 3 of which were related to HIV self-test use. Limitations include the self-reported nature of study outcomes and overall high uptake of HIV testing. CONCLUSIONS:In this study among FSWs in Zambia, we found that HIVST was acceptable and accessible. However, HIVST may not substantially increase HIV cascade progression in contexts where overall testing and linkage are already high. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02827240.

SUBMITTER: Chanda MM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5697803 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

HIV self-testing among female sex workers in Zambia: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Chanda Michael M MM Ortblad Katrina F KF Mwale Magdalene M Chongo Steven S Kanchele Catherine C Kamungoma Nyambe N Fullem Andrew A Dunn Caitlin C Barresi Leah G LG Harling Guy G Bärnighausen Till T Oldenburg Catherine E CE

PLoS medicine 20171121 11

<h4>Background</h4>HIV self-testing (HIVST) may play a role in addressing gaps in HIV testing coverage and as an entry point for HIV prevention services. We conducted a cluster randomized trial of 2 HIVST distribution mechanisms compared to the standard of care among female sex workers (FSWs) in Zambia.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>Trained peer educators in Kapiri Mposhi, Chirundu, and Livingstone, Zambia, each recruited 6 FSW participants. Peer educator-FSW groups were randomized to 1 of 3 arms: ...[more]

PMID: 29161260

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundHIV self-testing allows HIV testing at any place and time and without health workers. HIV self-testing may thus be particularly useful for female sex workers (FSWs), who should test frequently but face stigma and financial and time barriers when accessing healthcare facilities.Methods and findingsWe conducted a cluster-randomized controlled health systems trial among FSWs in Kampala, Uganda, to measure the effect of 2 HIV self-testing delivery models on HIV testing and linkage to care outcomes. FSW peer educator groups (1 peer educator and 8 participants) were randomized to either (1) direct provision of HIV self-tests, (2) provision of coupons for free collection of HIV self-tests in a healthcare facility, or (3) standard of care HIV testing. We randomized 960 participants in 120 peer educator groups from October 18, 2016, to November 16, 2016. Participants' median age was 28 years (IQR 24-32). Our prespecified primary outcomes were self-report of any HIV testing at 1 month and at 4 months; our prespecified secondary outcomes were self-report of HIV self-test use, seeking HIV-related medical care and ART initiation. In addition, we analyzed 2 secondary outcomes that were not prespecified: self-report of repeat HIV testing-to understand the intervention effects on frequent testing-and self-reported facility-based testing-to quantify substitution effects. Participants in the direct provision arm were significantly more likely to have tested for HIV than those in the standard of care arm, both at 1 month (risk ratio [RR] 1.33, 95% CI 1.17-1.51, p < 0.001) and at 4 months (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07-1.22, p < 0.001). Participants in the direct provision arm were also significantly more likely to have tested for HIV than those in the facility collection arm, both at 1 month (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.07-1.31, p = 0.001) and at 4 months (RR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05, p = 0.02). At 1 month, fewer participants in the intervention arms had sought medical care for HIV than in the standard of care arm, but these differences were not significant and were reduced in magnitude at 4 months. There were no statistically significant differences in ART initiation across study arms. At 4 months, participants in the direct provision arm were significantly more likely to have tested twice for HIV than those in the standard of care arm (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.29-1.77, p < 0.001) and those in the facility collection arm (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08-1.37, p = 0.001). Participants in the HIV self-testing arms almost completely replaced facility-based testing with self-testing. Two adverse events related to HIV self-testing were reported: interpersonal violence and mental distress. Study limitations included self-reported outcomes and limited generalizability beyond FSWs in similar settings.ConclusionsIn this study, HIV self-testing appeared to be safe and increased recent and repeat HIV testing among FSWs. We found that direct provision of HIV self-tests was significantly more effective in increasing HIV testing among FSWs than passively offering HIV self-tests for collection in healthcare facilities. HIV self-testing could play an important role in supporting HIV interventions that require frequent HIV testing, such as HIV treatment as prevention, behavior change for transmission reduction, and pre-exposure prophylaxis.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02846402.

Project description:BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing may help improve test uptake among female sex workers. China has implemented many HIV self-testing programs among men who have sex with men, creating an opportunity for promotion among female sex workers. However, there is a limited literature on examining HIV self-testing among female sex workers. This study aimed to examine HIV self-testing experiences and its determinants among female sex workers in China.MethodsA venue-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among Chinese female sex workers in 2019. Participants completed a survey including social-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, and HIV self-testing history, the distribution of which were analyzed using descriptive analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify associations with HIV self-testing.ResultsAmong 1287 Chinese female sex workers, 1072 (83.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 81.2-85.3%) had ever tested for HIV, and 103 (8.0%, 95% CI 6.6-9.6%) had ever used HIV self-testing. More than half reported that the self-test was their first HIV test (59.2%, 61/103), around one-fifth reported HIV self-testing results influenced the price of sex (21.4%, 22/103). A minority of individuals reported ever experiencing pressure to undertake HIV self-testing (6.8%, 7/103). After adjusting for covariates, HIV self-testing was positively associated with receiving anal sex in the past month (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.5), using drugs before or during sex (aOR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.8-4.5), injecting drugs in the past 6 months (aOR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-6.0), being diagnosed with other sexually transmitted infections (aOR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.5), tested for other sexually transmitted infections in the past six months (aOR = 3.4, 95% CI 2.1-5.5), ever tested in the hospital (aOR = 3.4, 95% CI 2.0-5.6), and ever tested in the community (aOR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.9).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that HIV self-testing could expand overall HIV testing uptake, increase HIV testing frequency, reach sub-groups of high-risk female sex workers and has limited potential harms among female sex workers. HIV self-testing should be incorporated among Chinese female sex workers as a complement to facility-based HIV testing services.

Project description:BackgroundNew HIV infections in Indonesia continue to be concentrated among key populations, including female sex workers (FSWs). However, increasing HIV testing among this subpopulation remains a challenge, necessitating exploration into alternative testing modalities.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess whether the addition of an oral fluid testing option in community settings would increase the rate of HIV case identification among FSWs. Because the study was implemented early in the outbreak of COVID-19 in Indonesia, a secondary objective is to assess approaches and tools for implementing both community outreach and community HIV screening for FSWs during pandemic conditions.MethodsWe undertook a community-based randomized trial in 23 national priority districts in which community outreach services were being provided. Community-based screening using an oral fluid-based rapid test was added to the community outreach standard of care in intervention districts with clients having the option of performing the test themselves or being assisted by outreach workers. A web-based system was created to screen for eligibility and collect participant data and test results, facilitating the process for both unassisted and assisted participants. Participants with reactive screening results were encouraged to undergo HIV testing at a health facility to confirm their diagnosis and initiate antiretroviral treatment as needed. Multiple means of recruitment were deployed including through outreach workers and social media campaigns.ResultsOf the 1907 FSWs who registered, met the eligibility criteria, and gave consent to participate, 1545 undertook community oral fluid test (OFT) screening. Most (1516/1545, 98.1%) opted for assisted screening. Recruitment via social media fell far short of expectations as many who registered independently for the OFT because of the social media campaign did not identify as FSWs. They were eventually not eligible to participate, but their interest points to the possibility of implementing HIV self-testing in the general population. The successful recruitment through outreach workers, facilitated by social media, indicates that their roles remain crucial in accessing FSW networks and improving HIV testing uptake.ConclusionsThe addition of HIV self-testing to the standard of care supported by a web-based data collection system was able to increase HIV case identification among FSWs in intervention districts. The high satisfaction of OFT users and the interest of the general population toward this alternative testing modality are promising for scaling up community HIV screening nationally.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04578145; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04578145.International registered report identifier (irrid)RR1-10.2196/27168.

Dataset Information

HIV self-testing among female sex workers in Zambia: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Publications

HIV self-testing among female sex workers in Zambia: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets