Original Research

HIV self-testing: a cross-sectional survey conducted among students at a tertiary institution in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2020

Hloniphile R. Mthiyane, Zinhle Makatini, Refilwe Tsukulu, Rumaanah Jeena, Motheo Mutloane, David Giddings, Sifiso Mahlangu, Paballo Likotsi, Liezl Majavie, Tali Druker, Florette Treurnicht
Journal of Public Health in Africa | Vol 14, No 5 | a202 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2023.2227 | © 2024 Hloniphile R. Mthiyane, Zinhle Makatini, Refilwe Tsukulu, Rumaanah Jeena, Motheo Mutloane, David Giddings, Sifiso Mahlangu, Paballo Likotsi, Liezl Majavie, Tali Druker, Florette Treurnicht | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 06 April 2024 | Published: 31 May 2023

About the author(s)

Hloniphile R. Mthiyane, Department of Virology, School of Pathology, South Africa
Zinhle Makatini, Department of Virology, School of Pathology, South Africa
Refilwe Tsukulu, Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Rumaanah Jeena, Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Motheo Mutloane, Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
David Giddings, Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Sifiso Mahlangu, Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Paballo Likotsi, Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Liezl Majavie, Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Tali Druker, Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Florette Treurnicht, Department of Virology, School of Pathology, South Africa

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Abstract

Background: Despite the growing evidence for reasonable acceptance and the willingness to use HIV self-testing (HIVST), South Africa has not yet fully explored HIVST.

Objective: This study’s objective was to determine knowledge, attitudes, and practices for HIVST among students aged 18 to 29 years from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Methods: An online cross-sectional self-administered survey was used to collect data from 01 January 2020 to 31 June 2020. Chi-squared test was used to determine the contribution between categorical variables and HIVST outcomes at a P-value of ≤0.05. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the association between categorical variables with HIVST at a 95% confidence interval.

Results: A total of 227 students were included and more than half were females and 68% were between 20 and 24 years of age. Only 15% reported prior access to HIVST. Almost all students (99%) indicated that they would confirm self-test results if positive. Age group 25-29 (aOR 3.43; 95% CI 1.7-77) was associated with HIVST access compared to ≤19 and 24-29 age groups.

Conclusions: HIVST awareness was generally high among this study population. Of concern is the extremely low number of students who had previously used HIVST, as well as those who were unaware of HIVST’s existence. Our findings highlight a necessity for HIVST advocacy in South Africa that provides information on where and how HIVST kits can be accessed to potentially upscale HIV testing – essential for achieving UNAIDS targets towards the elimination of HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat.


Keywords

HIV; HIV self-testing; awareness; access

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Crossref Citations

1. Acceptability and use of HIV self-testing among young people in sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed methods systematic review
Eshetu Andarge Zeleke, Jacqueline H Stephens, Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Behailu Merdekios Gello, Anna Ziersch
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