NDLI: “There is no need to leave the beach to test”: a qualitative study of HIV self-testing knowledge and acceptability of HIV self-test kit distribution among social networks of fishermen in Western Kenya

Content Provider	Springer Nature : BioMed Central
Author	Lewis-Kulzer, Jayne Olugo, Phoebe Gutin, Sarah A. Kwena, Zachary A. Nishimura, Holly Thorp, Marguerite Agot, Kawango Ayieko, Benard Bukusi, Elizabeth A. Oluoch, Lennah Angawa, David Thirumurthy, Harsha Camlin, Carol S.
Abstract	Background HIV self-testing (HIVST) can improve HIV testing uptake by offering convenience and privacy. Yet HIVST accessibility and uptake remain limited in Lake Victoria beach communities where HIVST holds promise to address many barriers highly mobile populations of men in fishing communities face. We assessed HIVST knowledge and acceptability among highly mobile fishermen, a high priority population for HIV prevention and treatment, participating in a social network-based study (“Owete”; NCT04772469) to promote HIV testing, prevention, and treatment in Kenya. Methods Sixty-five in-depth baseline interviews (IDIs) and two focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted at study baseline from December 2021 to June 2022 with fishermen, including 30 who were social network-central men recruited as HIVST “promoters” from three fishing communities along Lake Victoria, Kenya. Fishermen were purposively-sampled based on study arm, community, and age (18–34 and 35+) for interviews exploring HIVST knowledge, perceived benefits, and concerns. IDIs and FGDs were audio-recorded, translated/transcribed into English and inductively-coded and analyzed by six researchers using a framework approach. Results Nearly all participants had heard about HIVST and expressed willingness to self-test. Almost half reported learning about HIVST for the first time through the Owete study. Perceived benefits of self-testing included privacy, convenience, and being able to learn one’s status with the freedom to choose when and where to test, which minimized stigma and work interruptions. Few participants had used HIVST prior to joining Owete, all of whom reported ease of use. Potential barriers to HIVST included fear of HIV-seropositive results, feeling unsure about how to use HIVSTs, and fear of stigma if a HIVST was discovered. Nearly all Owete promoters indicated willingness to distribute HIVST to help their peers know their status. Promoters stressed the importance of approaching HIVST discussions strategically and thoughtfully to garner trust and engagement, and felt they needed training to answer HIVST questions. Conclusion While few fishermen had ever used HIVST, this study found high awareness, positive perceptions, and substantial willingness to use and distribute HIVST to other men. The “promoter” model, with known peers engaged in disseminating HIVST information and test kits, shows promise for engaging men in testing.
Related Links	https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s12889-025-22136-1.pdf
Ending Page	10
Page Count	10
Starting Page	1
File Format	HTM / HTML
ISSN	14712458
DOI	10.1186/s12889-025-22136-1
Journal	BMC Public Health
Issue Number	1
Volume Number	25
Language	English
Publisher	BioMed Central
Publisher Date	2025-03-14
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Public Health Medicine Epidemiology Biostatistics Vaccine Environmental Health HIV self-testing Prevention Fishermen Peer approaches sub-Saharan Africa Kenya Medicine/Public Health
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Journal Impact Factor	3.5/2023
5-Year Journal Impact Factor	3.9/2023

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Drivers and barriers to workplace-based HIV self-testing among high-risk men in Uganda: a qualitative study

Men’s perspectives on HIV self-testing in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-synthesis

A systematic review of qualitative findings on factors enabling and deterring uptake of HIV testing in Sub-Saharan Africa

Understanding how social support influences peer-delivered HIV prevention interventions among Ugandan female sex workers: a case study from HIV self-testing

Knowledge, and utilization of HIV self-testing, and its associated factors among women in sub–Saharan Africa: evidence from 21 countries demographic and health survey

Using surrogate vaccines to assess feasibility and acceptability of future HIV vaccine trials in men: a randomised trial in inner-city Johannesburg, South Africa

Training Social Network-Central Fishermen in Western Kenya to Distribute HIV Self-Test Kits and Health Facility Referral Vouchers.

The study of acceptability HIV self-testing among Iranian injecting drug users: a qualitative study

HIV testing experiences in Nairobi slums: the good, the bad and the ugly

“There is no need to leave the beach to test”: a qualitative study of HIV self-testing knowledge and acceptability of HIV self-test kit distribution among social networks of fishermen in Western Kenya

Similar Documents

Drivers and barriers to workplace-based HIV self-testing among high-risk men in Uganda: a qualitative study

Men’s perspectives on HIV self-testing in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-synthesis

A systematic review of qualitative findings on factors enabling and deterring uptake of HIV testing in Sub-Saharan Africa

Understanding how social support influences peer-delivered HIV prevention interventions among Ugandan female sex workers: a case study from HIV self-testing

Knowledge, and utilization of HIV self-testing, and its associated factors among women in sub–Saharan Africa: evidence from 21 countries demographic and health survey

Using surrogate vaccines to assess feasibility and acceptability of future HIV vaccine trials in men: a randomised trial in inner-city Johannesburg, South Africa

Training Social Network-Central Fishermen in Western Kenya to Distribute HIV Self-Test Kits and Health Facility Referral Vouchers.

The study of acceptability HIV self-testing among Iranian injecting drug users: a qualitative study

HIV testing experiences in Nairobi slums: the good, the bad and the ugly

“There is no need to leave the beach to test”: a qualitative study of HIV self-testing knowledge and acceptability of HIV self-test kit distribution among social networks of fishermen in Western Kenya