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Self-testing knowledge and beliefs on HIV self-testing use in central Uganda
Gerald Mukisa Nsereko1, Loyce Kiiza Kobusingye1, Khamisi Musanje1
1Department of Educational, Social and Organizational Psychology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
PLOS Global Public Health
|June 12, 2024
Summary
Knowledge and beliefs about HIV self-testing (HST) significantly influence its use among casual workers in Uganda. Perceived benefits were the strongest predictor, highlighting the need to promote HST advantages to boost uptake and meet UNAIDS goals.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- HIV/AIDS Prevention
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Uganda has invested in HIV self-testing (HST) to overcome clinic barriers.
- Suboptimal HST uptake, particularly among casual workers, hinders progress towards UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals.
- Understanding factors influencing HST use is crucial for effective HIV prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the influence of knowledge and individual beliefs on HIV self-testing use among casual workers in Kampala.
- To identify key predictors of HST uptake in this specific demographic.
- To inform strategies for increasing HST utilization to support HIV epidemic control.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 453 casual workers at Darling Uganda Ltd. in Wakiso district.
- Systematic random sampling was employed for participant selection.
- Data were collected using standardized questionnaires and analyzed with Pearson Correlations and Linear Regression in SPSS.
Main Results:
- HST knowledge showed a positive association with HST use (r = .387, p≤.01).
- Individual beliefs, including perceived susceptibility (r = .355, p≤.01) and perceived benefits (r = .487, p≤.01), were significantly related to HST use.
- Perceived benefits emerged as the strongest predictor of HST use (β = .442, p = .000), accounting for 44.2% of its use.
Conclusions:
- Knowledge and beliefs, especially perceived benefits, are critical drivers of HIV self-testing use among casual workers.
- Enhancing awareness of HST benefits can significantly increase testing uptake, particularly among men.
- These findings provide insights for targeted interventions to accelerate progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2030.
