@article{fdi:010096537,
  title = {{K}nowledge, attitudes and practices relating to {HIV} self-testing following its introduction in the {B}as-{S}assandra region of {C}{\^o}te d'{I}voire : the case of the {ATLAS} project},
  author = {{F}otso, {A}. {S}. and {K}oukobo, {C}. and {S}ilhol, {R}. and {K}ra, {A}. {K}. and {B}oily, {M}. {C}. and {V}autier, {A}. and {L}armarange, {J}oseph and {A}tlas {T}eam,},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground {A}wareness of {HIV} status is crucial for accessing {HIV} care and prevention but remains suboptimal in {W}est {A}frica. {T}he {ATLAS} initiative, launched in {C} & ocirc;te d'{I}voire, {M}ali, and {S}enegal, addressed this gap by distributing approximately 380,000 {HIV} self-testing ({HIVST}) kits from 2019 to 2021, primarily to key populations and their social networks. {T}his study assessed levels and correlates of {K}nowledge, {A}ttitudes, and {P}ractices ({KAP}) related to {HIVST} in the {B}as-{S}assandra region of {C} & ocirc;te d'{I}voire following {ATLAS}'s introduction.{M}ethod {A} cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted in the {B}as-{S}assandra region in 2021 among individuals aged 15-49. {A} total of 6,271 people (3,203 men and 3,068 women) were interviewed. {T}hey were selected using a three-stage stratified sampling approach in the {B}as-{S}assandra region. {B}ivariate statistics and multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess {KAP} levels and the associated factors.{R}esults {A}lthough few participants reported having heard about {HIVST} (11%) or having used it (3%), most of them reported that if it were freely available, they would be interested/very interested in using it for themselves (76%), as well as for their sexual partners (75%). {E}ducation and wealth were positively associated with knowledge and positive attitudes towards {HIVST} among both men and women, whereas age was positively correlated to knowledge and use of {HIVST} among men only. {T}he number of sexual partners over the last 12 months was positively associated with knowledge of {HIVST} and willingness to use {HIVST} for themselves or their sexual partners among both sexes. {W}e also found that high {HIV}-related knowledge and low levels of negative attitude were positively associated with positive attitudes towards {HIVST}, while exposure to the media appeared to be correlated to knowledge of {HIVST}.{C}onclusion {T}he high level of positive attitudes towards {HIVST} calls for a scaling up of access to {HIVST} in the region. {S}pecific attention to groups with the worst {KAP}, such as the less educated, the poor or those with more {HIV}-related negative attitude, could enhance the success of such initiatives.},
  keywords = {{COTE} {D}'{IVOIRE} ; {BAS} {SASSANDRA} {REGION}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{PL}o{S} {O}ne},
  volume = {21},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {e0314947 [17 p.]},
  ISSN = {1932-6203},
  year = {2026},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pone.0314947},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010096537},
}