HIV/AIDS
Conditions
Interventions
unassisted HIV self testing
directly assisted HIV self testing
Sponsors
University of Kisangani
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Eligibility was include all of the following criteria: (i) willingness to be tested for HIV infection; (ii) age between 18 and 49 years; (iii) possession of a 24-hour online telephone number; (iv) ignorance of own HIV status; (v) have not been tested for HIV in the last three months; (vi) reported having at least one unprotected sex in the last six months; (vii) possession of a permanent residence in the city of Kisangani (viii) ability to speak and read in French or vernacular languages (Lingala and Swahili), (viii) high risk for acquiring HIV infection,and (ix) signing of the written consent. High risk for HIV infection acquisition was defined as sexually active clients with: a history of unprotected intercourse with one or more partners of unknown HIV sero-status within the past 6 months, new sex partners in the past 6 months, symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the same period, commercial sex activity, or being in a known HIV discordant partnership.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Following criteria was retained: (i) refuse to be tested for HIV infection; (ii) are underage (age <18 years) or older than 49 years old; (iii) do not have 24-hour online telephone number; (v) declare themselves HIV positive; (vi) were tested for HIV in the last three months; (v) are unable to speak and read in French, Lingala and Swahili, and (vi) refuse to sign the written consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Difference in practicability of self-test kit, comparing the unassisted approach to the directly assisted approach. Practicability was defined as the ability to use the self-test autonomously or with oral assistance until obtaining valid test result (appearance of a control strip on the self-test), and to correctly interpret the HIV self-test result. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary outcomes included the proportions of participants who requested for assistance, the return rate, the linkage to post-test counselling, and the linkage to care. | — |
Countries
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Contacts
Public ContactSalomon Batina
professor at University of Kisangani
Outcome results
None listed