SynthesisBMC public health2020
Men's perspectives on HIV self-testing in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.
Synthesis in BMC public health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 64 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
64 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Acceptability of self-sampling and self-testing for infections: a rapid systematic review on public users' views.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Acceptability and use of HIV self-testing among young people in sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed methods systematic review.BMC primary care · 2024Pooled it
- Barriers and Facilitators to Participation in Health Screening: an Umbrella Review Across Conditions.Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research · 2022Pooled it
- Post-traumatic growth in psychosis: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.BMC psychiatry · 2021Pooled it
- HIV Self-Testing Uptake and Intervention Strategies Among Men in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.Frontiers in public health · 2021Pooled it
- HIVST in the presence of a partner among fishermen in Western Kenya: A qualitative study.African journal of AIDS research : AJAR · 2026Trial
- "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.BMC public health · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Men's comfort in distributing or receiving HIV self-test kits from close male social network members in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania: baseline results from the STEP project.BMC public health · 2021Trial
- Trial
- Unawareness of HIV-Positive Status among Men in Seven Sub-Saharan African Countries: Age, Behavioral, and Structural Determinants.AIDS and behavior · 2026Article
- Integration of PrEP dispensing with HIV self-testing among heterosexual men in Sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a scoping review.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Peer network approaches for improving HIV testing, prevention and care utilisation among men in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Perceived barriers and facilitators to the feasibility and acceptability of a peer-to-peer (P2P) HIV self-testing distribution model among adolescents and young people aged 15-24 years in Uganda: a qualitative study.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Navigating HIV self-testing: Concerns among adolescents and young people aged 15-24 years in Uganda. An exploratory qualitative study.PloS one · 2026Article
- Real-world experience of barriers to diagnosis, early detection and disease management among migrants living with HIV in Spain: a qualitative study.Annals of medicine · 2025Article
- Perspectives on App-Assisted Self-Testing Using Rapid Diagnostic Tests Among Community Members, Health Care Providers, and Public Health Leaders in Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia: Qualitative Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- "A heart of the man is lighter than that of the woman…" exploring men's motivation and capability to access HIV services in Lusaka, Zambia: findings from the Yaba Guy Che study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Article
4 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite the many HIV testing models implemented in Africa, the level of HIV testing uptake remains relatively poor, especially among men. The HIV self-testing (HIVST) model offers an additional approach for encouraging men to get tested. This study aimed to synthesise evidence on men's perspectives regarding HIVST in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
methodsThe databases searched included PubMed/MEDLINE, American Doctoral Dissertations via EBSCO host; Union Catalogue of Theses and Dissertations; SA ePublications via SABINET Online; World Cat Dissertations; Theses via OCLC; ERIC; CINAH; PsychInfo; Embase, Sociological Abstract, Scopus; and Google Scholar. The World Health Organization (WHO) and The Joint United Nations' Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) websites were further searched. We only extracted qualitative information from the included studies, despite the research method used (qualitative or mixed methods). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), as well as the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018, were used to determine the methodological quality of the included studies. NVivo version 11 was used for thematic analysis.
resultsA total of 21,184 articles were identified by the initial search criteria, but only 16 articles were included in the data extraction and quality assessment stage. The following key themes emerged: knowledge of HIVST; acceptability of HIVST; need for HIVST counselling; confidentiality of HIVST; convenience of HIVST; and accuracy of HIVST. The study shows that while HIVST provides men with an alternative, confidential and convenient testing model, the potential for psychological and physical harm remains a challenge.
conclusionThe introduction of the HIVST strategy has the potential of improving men's uptake in HIV testing services, thereby contributing towards addressing the first cascade of the 90-90-90 strategy. While HIVST has a potential for addressing men's barriers to attending clinic settings, such as confidentiality and convenience, it barely addresses the HIVST counselling and accuracy concerns.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.