ArticleBMC public health2021
"When you have a high life, and you like sex, you will be afraid": a qualitative evaluation of adolescents' decision to test for HIV in Zambia and Kenya using the health belief model.
Article in BMC public health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline 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
- An integrated HIV and chronic disease intervention to reduce HIV infection risk among older men who have sex with men in China: a randomized controlled trial.BMC public health · 2026Trial
- The Prevalence and Factors Associated With HIV Testing among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in the Gambia-Evidence From the 2019/2020 Demographic and Health Survey.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Article
- HIV/AIDS-Related Awareness and Misconceptions Among Grade 10 Students in MuttrahSultan Qaboos University medical journal · 2026Article
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus Test Anxiety of Adult Individuals Undergoing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing at an Anonymous Testing Center in Türkiye: A Qualitative Study.Florence Nightingale journal of nursing · 2025Article
- Implementation of Virtual Focus Groups as an Effective Strategy in Qualitative Research to Engage With Undersupported Communities: Protocol for Virtual Focus Groups.JMIR research protocols · 2025Article
- Prevalence and determinants of HIV testing among adolescent girls and young women in 28 sub-Saharan African countries.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Using the health belief model to examine adolescent participation in HIV prevention research in Kampala, Uganda: A qualitative study.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Article
- Motivations, benefits, and barriers to the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis based on the health belief model.Revista latino-americana de enfermagem · 2025Article
- Recent HIV infections and estimated HIV incidence among adolescents from key populations.Revista de saude publica · 2024Article
- Article
- A Qualitative Approach to Explore Perceptions, Opinions and Beliefs of Communities who Experienced Health Disparities towards Chronic Health Conditions.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHIV testing among adolescents is significantly lower than among adults and many adolescents living with HIV do not know their status. Adolescent perceptions of HIV testing are poorly understood and may negatively affect testing uptake. Using a qualitative design, this study sought to explore perceptions about HIV testing and treatment among adolescents living with HIV and adolescents of unknown HIV status in Lusaka, Zambia and Kenya.
methodsStudy participants were adolescents aged 15-19 years old. The adolescents living with HIV were recruited from HIV support groups at health facilities. Adolescents of unknown HIV status were recruited from existing adolescent groups within the community. In both Zambia and Kenya, four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with adolescents living with HIV and four FGDs were conducted with adolescents whose HIV status was unknown, for a total of 16 FDGs. FGDs consisted of 6-12 participants, a moderator, and a note-taker. FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into transcripts. Transcripts were coded in the qualitative analysis software program MAXQDA v. 12. Data reduction and summary tables were generated to help identify themes across the two study population groups. Data were interpreted within the health belief model.
resultsAdolescents discussed the challenges of facing a positive HIV test result, including fear of a positive result and need to change their lifestyle, fear of social isolation, and perception of the lost opportunity to achieve future dreams. Most adolescents of unknown status were not as aware of the benefits of learning their HIV status, nor were they aware of the ability to live a long and healthy life on ART. HIV-positive adolescents reported that the messages targeted towards adolescents focus on the need to remain HIV-negative, as opposed to the benefits of knowing one's status. Adolescents described age and requirements for parental permission as a significant limitation in their ability to access HIV testing.
conclusionsAdolescents require more information about the benefits of testing early and the ability to live a long and healthy life on ART. Educating adolescents that HIV testing is a normative behavior among their peers could strengthen HIV testing among adolescents.
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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.