Uptake and factors associated with HIV self-testing among women in South Africa

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing (ST) is a convenient and discreet practice to know HIV status. It is required to reach the underserved population subgroups. We examined the uptake and factors associated with HIVST among reproductive-aged South African women. Methods: A s...

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Main Authors: Michael Ekholuenetale, Osaretin C. Okonji, Chimezie I. Nzoputam, Amadou Barrow
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2024-05-01
Series:Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa
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Online Access:https://jcmsa.org.za/index.php/jcmsa/article/view/21
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author Michael Ekholuenetale
Osaretin C. Okonji
Chimezie I. Nzoputam
Amadou Barrow
author_facet Michael Ekholuenetale
Osaretin C. Okonji
Chimezie I. Nzoputam
Amadou Barrow
author_sort Michael Ekholuenetale
collection DOAJ
description Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing (ST) is a convenient and discreet practice to know HIV status. It is required to reach the underserved population subgroups. We examined the uptake and factors associated with HIVST among reproductive-aged South African women. Methods: A sample of 8182 women from 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey data were analysed. Percentage and multivariable logistic regression model were conducted. The significance level was set at p  0.05. Results: Approximately 3.1% of women had HIVST uptake. Respondents with primary education had a 75% reduction in the odds of HIVST, compared with women who had no formal education. Women who are employed were 1.44 times as likely to have HIVST uptake compared to those not employed. Women aged 20–24 years, 25–29 years, 30–34 years, and 40–44 years had about two times higher odds of HIVST, when compared with women aged 15–19 years. Women who read newspaper or magazine less than once a week or at least once a week were 1.90 and 2.25 times as likely to have HIVST uptake, respectively, when compared with those who do not read at all. Conclusion: The prevalence of HIVST uptake was low. HIVST was associated with women’s sociodemographic characteristics. The findings highlight the importance of addressing women’s needs to know their HIV status. Contribution: This study adds to the body of literature in understanding the utilisation patterns of HIVST across women in South Africa.
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spelling doaj-art-aef93dfe40554801b3301d88ac6ac4292025-08-20T02:47:18ZengAOSISJournal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa2960-110X2024-05-0121e1e610.4102/jcmsa.v2i1.2117Uptake and factors associated with HIV self-testing among women in South AfricaMichael Ekholuenetale0Osaretin C. Okonji1Chimezie I. Nzoputam2Amadou Barrow3Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, IbadanSchool of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Cape TownDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin CityDepartment of Public and Environmental Health, School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of The Gambia, BrikamaBackground: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing (ST) is a convenient and discreet practice to know HIV status. It is required to reach the underserved population subgroups. We examined the uptake and factors associated with HIVST among reproductive-aged South African women. Methods: A sample of 8182 women from 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey data were analysed. Percentage and multivariable logistic regression model were conducted. The significance level was set at p  0.05. Results: Approximately 3.1% of women had HIVST uptake. Respondents with primary education had a 75% reduction in the odds of HIVST, compared with women who had no formal education. Women who are employed were 1.44 times as likely to have HIVST uptake compared to those not employed. Women aged 20–24 years, 25–29 years, 30–34 years, and 40–44 years had about two times higher odds of HIVST, when compared with women aged 15–19 years. Women who read newspaper or magazine less than once a week or at least once a week were 1.90 and 2.25 times as likely to have HIVST uptake, respectively, when compared with those who do not read at all. Conclusion: The prevalence of HIVST uptake was low. HIVST was associated with women’s sociodemographic characteristics. The findings highlight the importance of addressing women’s needs to know their HIV status. Contribution: This study adds to the body of literature in understanding the utilisation patterns of HIVST across women in South Africa.https://jcmsa.org.za/index.php/jcmsa/article/view/21hiv and/or aidssub-saharan africawomensexually transmitted infectionsouth africa
spellingShingle Michael Ekholuenetale
Osaretin C. Okonji
Chimezie I. Nzoputam
Amadou Barrow
Uptake and factors associated with HIV self-testing among women in South Africa
Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa
hiv and/or aids
sub-saharan africa
women
sexually transmitted infection
south africa
title Uptake and factors associated with HIV self-testing among women in South Africa
title_full Uptake and factors associated with HIV self-testing among women in South Africa
title_fullStr Uptake and factors associated with HIV self-testing among women in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Uptake and factors associated with HIV self-testing among women in South Africa
title_short Uptake and factors associated with HIV self-testing among women in South Africa
title_sort uptake and factors associated with hiv self testing among women in south africa
topic hiv and/or aids
sub-saharan africa
women
sexually transmitted infection
south africa
url https://jcmsa.org.za/index.php/jcmsa/article/view/21
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AT osaretincokonji uptakeandfactorsassociatedwithhivselftestingamongwomeninsouthafrica
AT chimezieinzoputam uptakeandfactorsassociatedwithhivselftestingamongwomeninsouthafrica
AT amadoubarrow uptakeandfactorsassociatedwithhivselftestingamongwomeninsouthafrica