Abstract

AWARENESS, ACCEPTABILITY AND USE OF ORAL HIV SELFTEST AMONG FEMALE SEX WORKERS AND MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN IN A SOUTHWESTERN STATE IN NIGERIA- A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Nneka Egbonrelu*, Olabanjo Ogunsola, Temilade Adeniji, Adeola Awolola, Olaide Awokunle, Tobenna Okonkwo, Michael Ohue, Remi Olaitan, Ifeyinwa Onwuatuelo, Samuels Jay Osi and Prosper Okonkwo

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In 2016, World Health Organization recommended HIV self-testing (HIVST) as an alternative testing strategy to improve HIV testing especially in key population .The purpose of the study was to establish and compare the awareness, acceptability, and the use of Oral HIV self-test among Female sex workers (FSW) and Men who have sex with Men (MSM). Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was administered through a network of non-governmental organizations that historically provides support and services to FSW and MSM. A respondent- driven sampling method was used to recruit 200 FSW and 186 MSM between May and June 2022. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent predictor of oral HIV self-test use among participants. P<0.05 was assumed to be significant at 95% confidence interval. Results: Age group 21-30 years was the most represented age group in FSW 94 (47.0%) and MSM 102(53.0%). A Significant percentage of FSW had previously heard and used oral HIV self-test kits 61(30.5%) and 46 (23%) respectively compared to MSM where 46 (24.7%) have previously heard and 9 (4.8%) had used oral HIVST. FSW who had previously been tested for HIV are more than 3 times more likely to have heard of HIV self-test while MSM who had previously been tested for HIV are about 5 times more likely to have heard of HIV selftest. Conclusion: The awareness and use of oral HIVST kits were found to be poor in both FSW and MSM. Strategies to improve awareness and use of oral HIVST kits should be deployed among social networks of key population.

Keywords: Female sex workers (FSW), Men who have sex with men (MSM), Oral HIV self-test (HIVST), HIV and Key Population.