| Autor: |
Peter Meylakhs, Arsen Davitadze, Anastasia Meylakhs |
| Rok vydání: |
2021 |
| Předmět: |
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| Popis: |
The COVID-19 pandemic increased actuality of HIV self-testing (HIVST). Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Russia are highly stigmatized populations vulnerable to HIV infection and hard to reach with facility-based testing strategies. The study explored acceptability of HIV self-testing (HIVST) among these key groups in Russia. 32 semi-structured interviews with MSM and 3 TGW women from 5 Russian cities who underwent HIVST were conducted. Benefits of HIVST included ease of use, convenience and confidentiality. Confidentiality helped participants to avoid stigma related to their identity thus empowering them in conditions of high stigmatization of LGBTQ-people. Participants expressed concerns about accuracy of saliva-based HIVST and lack of counseling in case of reactive result. Our results suggest high acceptability of HIVST among Russian MSM and TGW and indicate that increase in HIVST uptake could be facilitated by popularization of HIVST and addressing the participants’ concerns. |
| Databáze: |
OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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