ArticlePloS one2021
Uptake of oral fluid-based HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Thailand.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evidence on Digital HIV Self-Testing From Accuracy to Impact: Updated Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Counseling Supporting HIV Self-Testing and Linkage to Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2024Pooled it
- Stigma, privacy concerns, sexual behaviors, and testing history shape willingness to use HIV self-testing among African refugee men engaged in sex work in Italy - a mixed method study-BGSH-023.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Empowering at-risk Thai adolescents and young adults: an observational study of "Stand By You" - a person-centred online service model for HIV self-screening, text-based counselling and linkage to care.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2025Observational
- Article
- Prevalence and Factors Associated with HIV Testing Among Women of Reproductive Age in Liberia: A Cross-Sectional Study from the 2019/20 Demographic and Health Survey.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Article
- Towards Ending AIDS: The Additional Role of HIV Self-Testing in Thailand.Global health, science and practice · 2024Article
- Leveraging HIV self-testing to achieve the UNAIDS 2025 targets in the South and Southeast Asia region.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2024Article
- Highlighting and addressing barriers to widespread adaptation of HIV self-testing in the United States.Expert review of molecular diagnostics · 2023Review
- Expanding options for HIV testing: A process evaluation of a community-led HIV self-testing intervention among men who have sex with men in Kenya.Gates open research · 2023Article
- Self-Testing as a Hope to Reduce HIV in Transgender Women-Literature Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Review
- Outcomes of a community-led online-based HIV self-testing demonstration among cisgender men who have sex with men and transgender women in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study.BMC public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
18 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSuboptimal uptake of HIV testing remains a primary bottleneck to HIV prevention and treatment for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Thailand. The World Health Organization has recommended HIV self-testing (HIVST) as an additional strategic HIV service. However, HIVST has not been fully endorsed and implemented in many countries in Southeast Asia. The aim of this study was to assess the uptake of oral fluid-based HIVST in MSM and TGW populations in Thailand.
methodsDuring 2017 and 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study using convenience sampling to enroll 2,524 participants from three major urban areas. Participants were recruited during outreach and online activities and were offered unassisted or assisted HIVST, or referral to HIV testing services. A descriptive analysis was performed for summarizing data.
resultsA total of 2,502 participants (1,422 MSM and 1,082 TGW) were included in the analysis with about one-third (36.1%) of them being first-time testers. Among all participants enrolled in the study, a total of 2,486 participants (99.3%) selected HIVST versus referral to HIV testing services. Of those who selected HIVST, 2,095 (84.3%) opted for assisted HIVST while the rest opted for unassisted HIVST: 1,148 of 1,411 MSM (81.4%) and 947 of 1,075 TGW (88.1%) selected assisted HIVST. While no serious adverse events were reported during the study, we found that among 179 participants who needed a confirmatory test and were referred to HIV testing services, 108 (60.3.4%) accessed these later services.
conclusionsThis study demonstrated a high uptake of oral fluid-based HIVST among MSM and TGW populations in Thailand and that HIVST could be scaled up through the national epidemic control program. However, a better understanding of HIV testing-seeking behavior and innovative follow-up solutions are needed to improve and monitor linkages to services for people who undertake HIVST.
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