@article{fdi:010092067,
  title = {{HIV} self-testing positivity rate and linkage to confirmatory testing and care : a telephone survey in {C}{\^o}te d'{I}voire, {M}ali, and {S}enegal},
  author = {{K}ra, {A}. {K}. and {F}otso, {A}. {S}. and {R}ouveau, {N}. and {M}aheu-{G}iroux, {M}. and {B}oily, {M}. {C}. and {S}ilhol, {R}. and {V}autier, {A}. and {L}armarange, {J}oseph and d'{E}lbee, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{HIV} self-testing ({HIVST}) empowers individuals to decide when and where to test and with whom to share their results. {F}rom 2019 to 2022, the {ATLAS} program distributed similar to 400 000 {HIVST} kits in {C} & ocirc;te d'{I}voire, {M}ali, and {S}enegal. {I}t prioritised key populations, including female sex workers and men who have sex with men, and encouraged secondary distribution of {HIVST} to their partners, peers and clients.{T}o preserve the confidential nature of {HIVST}, use of kits and their results were not systematically tracked. {I}nstead, an anonymous phone survey was carried out in two phases during 2021 to estimate {HIVST} positivity rates (phase 1) and linkage to confirmatory testing (phase 2). {I}nitially, participants were recruited via leaflets from {M}arch to {J}une and completed a sociobehavioural questionnaire. {I}n the second phase ({S}eptember- {O}ctober), participants who had reported two lines or who reported a reactive result were recontacted to complete another questionnaire. {O}f the 2 615 initial participants, 89.7% reported a consistent response between the number of lines on the {HIVST} and their interpretation of the result (i.e., 'non-reactive' for 1 line, 'reactive' for 2 lines).{O}verall positivity rate based on self-interpreted {HIVST} results was 2.5% considering complete responses, and could have ranged from 2.4% to 9.1% depending on the interpretation of incomplete responses. {U}sing the reported number of lines, this rate was estimated at 4.5% (ranging from 4.4% to 7.2%). {P}ositivity rates were significantly lower only among respondents with higher education. {N}o significant difference was observed by age, key population profile, country or history of {HIV} testing.{T}he second phase saw 78 out of 126 eligible participants complete the questionnaire. {O}f the 27 who reported a consistent reactive response in the first phase, 15 (56%, 95%{CI}: 36 to 74%) underwent confirmatory {HIV} testing, with 12 (80%) confirmed as {HIV}-positive, all of whom began antiretroviral treatment.{T}he confirmation rate of {HIVST} results was fast, with 53% doing so within a week and 91% within three months of self-testing. {T}wo-thirds (65%) went to a general public facility, and one-third to a facility dedicated to key populations.{T}he {ATLAS} {HIVST} distribution strategy reached people living with {HIV} in {W}est {A}frica. {L}inkage to confirmatory testing following a reactive {HIVST} remained relatively low in these first years of {HIVST} implementation. {H}owever, if confirmed {HIV}-positive, almost all initiated treatment. {HIVST} constitutes a relevant complementary tool to existing screening services.},
  keywords = {{COTE} {D}'{IVOIRE} ; {MALI} ; {SENEGAL}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}eer {C}ommunity {J}ournal},
  volume = {4},
  numero = {},
  pages = {e56 [27 ]},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.24072/pcjournal.428},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010092067},
}