ArticlePloS one2023
Youth and healthcare workers' perspectives on the feasibility and acceptability of self-testing for HIV, Hepatitis and Syphilis among young people: Qualitative findings from a pilot study in Gaborone, Botswana.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis 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.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Acceptability and use of HIV self-testing among young people in sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed methods systematic review.BMC primary care · 2024Pooled it
- Experiences of Integration of HIV, Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infection Services Across Different Countries Worldwide: A Scoping Review.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Integration of HIV, Hepatitis B, and C, and sexually transmitted infections services: A scoping review of the benefits and challenges.PloS one · 2026Article
- Moving self-care from concept to practice.BMJ global health · 2025Article
- A community-based study of intention to use HIV self-testing among young people in urban areas of southern Ethiopia.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
11 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
introductionLittle is known regarding the attitudes and perspectives of young people and healthcare workers in Botswana about dual self-testing for HIV and STIs including its acceptability, or their perceptions of the opportunities and limitations of this approach.
methodsFrom July to November 2021, 25 young people and 6 healthcare workers were purposively sampled for in-depth telephone interviews conducted in English or Setswana. The interviews followed a semi-structured topic guide, were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically using deviant case and constant comparative techniques. The study was part of a pilot project evaluating dual self-testing for HIV and STIs among young people in Gaborone.
resultsWe found that most of the young people were already aware of their HIV status and were motivated to participate in self-testing mainly because they were interested in learning their STI status. Whilst most were excited about the autonomy and convenience offered by self-testing, some participants expressed nervousness particularly of the finger-prick process, and preferred healthcare worker-administered tests. Both young people and healthcare workers raised concerns about the potential negative mental health outcomes of unexpected test results and emphasized the importance of pre- and post-test counselling and seamless linkage to care.
conclusionDual self-testing for HIV and STIs has the potential to empower young people to take control of their sexual health. However, it is crucial to ensure that proper support and counselling services are in place, along with effective mechanisms for linkage to care. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating pre- and post-test counselling into self-testing programs to ensure that young people feel adequately supported throughout the testing process. By doing so, self-testing can become a valuable tool for improving the sexual health outcomes of young people in Botswana.
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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.