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Female sex workers perspectives and concerns regarding HIV self-testing: an exploratory study in Tanzania

2020; BioMed Central; Volume: 20; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1186/s12889-020-09105-6

1471-2458

Soori Nnko, Daniel Nyato, Evodius Kuringe, Caterina Casalini, Amani Shao, Albert Komba, John Changalucha, Mwita Wambura,

HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk

HIV testing is a gateway to HIV care and treatment for people diagnosed with HIV and can link those with negative results to HIV preventive services. Despite the importance of HIV testing services (HTS) in HIV control, uptake of HTS among female sex workers (FSWs) across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains sub-optimal. Concerns about stigma associated with sex work and fear of loss of livelihood if HIV status becomes known, are some of the restrictions for FSWs to utilize HTS offered through health care facilities. Introduction of HIV self-testing (HIVST) may mitigate some of the barriers for the uptake of HTS. This study explored the acceptability of FSWs towards the introduction of HIVST in Tanzania.