Original Research
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers regarding human immunodeficiency virus index testing in 2021, Burkina Faso
Submitted: 03 April 2024 | Published: 30 September 2023
About the author(s)
Smaïla Ouedraogo, Department of Public Health, Research Training Unit (RTU)/Health Sciences (HS), University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoAhmed Kabore, Department of Public Health, Research Training Unit (RTU)/Health Sciences (HS), University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Ismaël Diallo, Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, RTU/HS, University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Maurice Sarigda, Department of Sociology, RTU/Human Sciences, University Thomas Sankara, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Désiré L. Dahourou, Department of Biomedicine/Public Health, Institute for Research in Health Sciences, National Center for Scientific and Technologic Research, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Kuilga B. Kabre, Department of Public Health, Research Training Unit (RTU)/Health Sciences (HS), University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Issa Romba, Permanent Secretary Office of the National Council Responding to HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Bapougouni P.C. Yonli, Permanent Secretary Office of the National Council Responding to HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Ter T.E. Dah, Department of Public Health, University of Ouahigouya, Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso
Nicolas Meda, Department of Public Health, Research Training Unit (RTU)/Health Sciences (HS), University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Abstract
Although knowing one's HIV status is a necessary step in initiating antiretroviral treatment, more than a quarter of Burkinabe who are HIV‑positive do not know their status. To reach the target of screening at least 95% of people living with HIV (PLHIV), the country has opted for HIV index testing (screening of sexual partners, children and partners of intravenous drug users). This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices of health workers on HIV index testing. A cross‑sectional study was conducted among health workers on index testing pilot sites in Burkina Faso. We constructed scores of health workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding HIV index testing. A total of 132 health workers were surveyed, 62.8% of whom were female. Regarding profiles, 44.7% of the participants were nurses and 5.3% were midwives; physicians and psychosocial counselors accounted for 16.7 and 33.3%, respectively. Most of the participants worked in public health centers (60.6%). Overall, the majority of the participants had poor or average knowledge (85.6%) of the index testing strategy and harmful or inadequate practices (87.1%). Less than half (40.9%) had favorable attitudes toward the strategy. Our study showed that the knowledge of health workers was generally average, their attitudes were not very favorable and their practices were mostly inadequate with regard to HIV index testing. In order to increase the chances of reaching the first 95% of UNAIDS, trainings on the topic must be designed for health workers.
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