Cheryl Johnson

Biographic Data

ID3613867
NAMECheryl Johnson
GIVEN NAMESCheryl
FAMILY NAMEJohnson
SIGNATUREJOHNSON C
AFFILIATIONSWorld Health Organization
ORCID0000-0001-5499-5523
VERIFIEDYes
TOTAL WORKS35
TOTAL CITATIONS9
AUTHOR COUNT35
EDITOR COUNT0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR1982
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2026
H-INDEX1

  • Feasibility and acceptability of hepatitis C virus self-testing models among high-risk groups in Nasarawa, Nigeria; Exploratory cross-sectional analysis of an implementation study

    Open AccessVictor Abiola Adepoju, Chidinma Umebido et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2026

    Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major public health challenge, with significant gaps in diagnosis and treatment in resource-limited settings. Hepatitis C self-testing (HCVST) offers a potential strategy to expand access, particularly in HIV clinical settings. We evaluated feasibility and acceptability of HCVST among high-risk populations in Nasarawa State, Nigeria when provided at antiretroviral (ART) clinics and one-stop shops (OSS) …

  • Faith-based Messaging and Materials for Colorectal Cancer Screening in the United States

    Open AccessJamie H Thompson, Priyanka Gautom et al.ARTICLEJournal of Religion and Health2025

    The Black Church has long been an institution of refuge, mobilization, and healing in Black or African American communities. While health promotion interventions have been implemented in the Black Church, little is known about ways to incorporate faith into colorectal cancer (CRC) screening messages. Using modified boot camp translation, a community-based approach, we met with 27 members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georg…

  • Do community-level factors play a role in HIV self-testing uptake, linkage to services and HIV-related outcomes? A mixed methods study of community-led HIV self-testing in rural Zimbabwe

    Open AccessMary K Tumushime, Nancy Ruhode et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2025

    Community-led interventions, where communities plan and lead implementation, are increasingly being adopted within public health programmes. We explore factors associated with successful community-led distribution of HIV self-test (HIVST) kits to guide future service delivery. Twenty rural communities were supported to distribute HIVST kits for 1-month between January and September 2019. Social science researchers observed communities during plan…

  • Task sharing for point-of-care testing

    Open AccessZibusiso Ndlovu, Mariamo Ibraimo Assane et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2025

    World Health Organization recommends task sharing (TS) for point-of-care testing (POCT) with lay health workers (LHW) to improve access when professional capacity is limited. Despite many benefits of POCT, TS remains underutilized. This study examined uptake of TS for POCT in national policies and the implementation landscape in 19 African countries from November 2024 to March 2025. A mixed-methods approach included an online cross-sectional surv…

  • Who has never tested for HIV following a community-based distribution of HIV self-test kits? Establishing associated predictors in rural Zimbabwe

    Open AccessWellington Murenjekwa, Kudzai Chidhanguro et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2025

    In 2023, Zimbabwe attained the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets. However, some sub-populations are substantially less likely to have tested for HIV. Knowledge of characteristics of these groups is crucial in designing interventions that address their needs. We estimated the prevalence and predictors of “never-having tested for HIV” status following community-based distribution of HIV self-test kits in rural Zimbabwe. We analysed data from a household surv…

  • Covid-19 self-testing

    Open AccessMelody Sakala, Cheryl Johnson et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2024

    The widespread use of antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) has revolutionized SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) testing, particularly through the option of self-testing. The full extent of Ag-RDT utilization for self-testing, however, remains largely unexplored. To inform the development of WHO guidance on COVID-19 self-testing, we conducted a global consultation to gather the views and experiences of policy makers, researchers, and implementer…

  • Caregiver-assisted testing with HIV self-test kits for children 18 months and older

    Open AccessKathleen McGee, Muhammad S Jamil et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2024

    Caregiver-assisted testing using HIV self-test (CG-HIVST) kits has been proposed to enhance paediatric HIV case finding and contribute toward ending paediatric HIV/AIDS by 2030. We conducted a systematic review to assess the risks and benefits of CG-HIVST. We searched nine electronic databases and consulted experts to identify relevant articles through 5 February, 2022. Studies comparing CG-HIVST to other testing services among children over 18-m…

  • Use of indirect evidence from HIV self-testing to inform the WHO hepatitis C self-testing recommendation

    Open AccessVirginia A Fonner, N Luhmann et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2023

  • Maintaining HIV testing and treatment services in Zambia during Covid-19

    Open AccessTina Chisenga, Menard Chihana et al.ARTICLEGlobal Health Action2023

    BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. As countries struggled to control the spread of the virus through among other measures closure of health facilities, repurposing of health care workers, and restrictions on people's movement, HIV service delivery was affected. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of COVID-19 on HIV service delivery in Zambia by comparing uptake o…

  • The Future of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention

    Open AccessMary Henderson, H Schmidt et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2023

    Differentiated service delivery and new products, such as long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) and the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR), could increase uptake and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. We explored PrEP provider perspectives on differentiated PrEP service delivery and new PrEP products to inform World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and programme implementation. 150 PrEP providers who participated in …

  • Understanding mechanisms of impact from community-led delivery of HIV self-testing

    Open AccessPitchaya Indravudh, Fern Terris-Prestholt et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2022

    Community HIV strategies are important for early diagnosis and treatment, with new self-care technologies expanding the types of services that can be led by communities. We evaluated mechanisms underlying the impact of community-led delivery of HIV self-testing (HIVST) using mediation analysis. We conducted a cluster-randomised trial allocating 30 group village heads and their catchment areas to the community-led HIVST intervention in addition to…

  • The cost and intermediary cost-effectiveness of oral HIV self-test kit distribution across 11 distribution models in South Africa

    Open AccessKatleho Matsimela, Linda Sande et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    BACKGROUND: Countries around the world seek innovative ways of closing their remaining gaps towards the target of 95% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) knowing their status by 2030. Offering kits allowing HIV self-testing (HIVST) in private might help close these gaps. METHODS: We analysed the cost, use and linkage to onward care of 11 HIVST kit distribution models alongside the Self-Testing AfRica Initiative's distribution of 2.2 million HIVST k…

  • Does community-based distribution of HIV self-tests increase uptake of HIV testing? Results of pair-matched cluster randomised trial in Zambia

    Open AccessMelissa Neuman, B Hensen et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    OBJECTIVES: Ending HIV by 2030 is a global priority. Achieving this requires alternative HIV testing strategies, such as HIV self-testing (HIVST) to reach all individuals with HIV testing services (HTS). We present the results of a trial evaluating the impact of community-based distribution of HIVST in community and facility settings on the uptake of HTS in rural and urban Zambia. DESIGN: Pair-matched cluster randomised trial. METHODS: In catchme…

  • Innovative demand creation strategies to increase voluntary medical male circumcision uptake

    Open AccessWebster Mavhu, Melissa Neuman et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    INTRODUCTION: Reaching men aged 20-35 years, the group at greatest risk of HIV, with voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) remains a challenge. We assessed the impact of two VMMC demand creation approaches targeting this age group in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). METHODS: We conducted a 2×2 factorial RCT comparing arms with and without two interventions: (1) standard demand creation augmented by human-centred design (HCD)-informed app…

  • ART initiations following community-based distribution of HIV self-tests

    Open AccessMelissa Neuman, Katherine Fielding et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    INTRODUCTION: Measuring linkage after community-based testing, particularly HIV self-testing (HIVST), is challenging. Here, we use data from studies of community-based HIVST distribution, conducted within the STAR Initiative, to assess initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and factors driving differences in linkage rates. METHODS: Five STAR studies evaluated HIVST implementation in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. New ART initiations during the …

  • Community-based HIV self-testing

    Open AccessEuphemia Sibanda, Melissa Neuman et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) requires linkage to post-test services to maximise its benefits. We evaluated effect of supply-side incentivisation on linkage following community-based HIVST and evaluated time-trends in facility-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiations. METHODS: From August 2016 to August 2017 community-based distributors (CBDs) in 38 rural Zimbabwean communities distributed HIVST door-to-door in 19-25 day campaigns. C…

  • Effect of peer-distributed HIV self-test kits on demand for biomedical HIV prevention in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

    Open AccessM Shahmanesh, Thobile Mthiyane et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    Study objective We investigated two peer distribution models of HIV self-testing (HIVST) in HIV prevention demand creation compared with trained young community members (peer navigators). Methods We used restricted randomisation to allocate 24 peer navigator pairs (clusters) in KwaZulu-Natal 1:1:1: (1) standard of care ( SOC): peer navigators distributed clinic referrals, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) informatio…

  • Effect of door-to-door distribution of HIV self-testing kits on HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy initiation

    Open AccessPitchaya Indravudh, Katherine Fielding et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    INTRODUCTION: Reaching high coverage of HIV testing remains essential for HIV diagnosis, treatment and prevention. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of door-to-door distribution of HIV self-testing (HIVST) kits in rural Malawi. METHODS: This cluster randomised trial, conducted between September 2016 and January 2018, used restricted 1:1 randomisation to allocate 22 health facilities and their defined areas to door-to-door HIVST alongside …

  • Pragmatic economic evaluation of community-led delivery of HIV self-testing in Malawi

    Open AccessPitchaya Indravudh, Katherine Fielding et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    INTRODUCTION: Community-based strategies can extend coverage of HIV testing and diagnose HIV at earlier stages of infection but can be costly to implement. We evaluated the costs and effects of community-led delivery of HIV self-testing (HIVST) in Mangochi District, Malawi. METHODS: This economic evaluation was based within a pragmatic cluster-randomised trial of 30 group village heads and their catchment areas comparing the community-led HIVST i…

  • The cost effectiveness and optimal configuration of HIV self-test distribution in South Africa

    Open AccessLise Jamieson, Leigh F Johnson et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) has been shown to be acceptable, feasible and effective in increasing HIV testing uptake. Novel testing strategies are critical to achieving the UNAIDS target of 95% HIV-positive diagnosis by 2025 in South Africa and globally. METHODS: We modelled the impact of six HIVST kit distribution modalities (community fixed-point, taxi ranks, workplace, partners of primary healthcare (PHC) antiretroviral therapy (ART) …

  • Comparison of community-led distribution of HIV self-tests kits with distribution by paid distributors

    Open AccessEuphemia Sibanda, Collin Mangenah et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    BACKGROUND: We compared community-led versus an established community-based HIV self-testing (HIVST) model in rural Zimbabwe using a cluster-randomised trial. METHODS: Forty village groups were randomised 1:1 using restricted randomisation to community-led HIVST, where communities planned and implemented HIVST distribution for 4 weeks, or paid distribution (PD), where distributors were paid US$50 to distribute kits door-to-door over 4 weeks. Indi…

  • Relative efficiency of demand creation strategies to increase voluntary medical male circumcision uptake

    Open AccessCollin Mangenah, Webster Mavhu et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    BACKGROUND: Supply and demand-side factors continue to undermine voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) uptake. We assessed relative economic costs of four VMMC demand creation/service-delivery modalities as part of a randomised controlled trial in Zimbabwe. METHODS: Interpersonal communication agents were trained and incentivised to generate VMMC demand across five districts using four demand creation modalities (standard demand creation (SD…

  • Costs of integrating HIV self-testing in public health facilities in Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe

    Open AccessLinda Sande, Linda Alinafe Sande et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    INTRODUCTION: As countries approach the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, there is a need for innovative and cost-saving HIV testing approaches that can increase testing coverage in hard-to-reach populations. The HIV Self-Testing Africa-Initiative distributed HIV self-test (HIVST) kits using unincentivised HIV testing counsellors across 31 public facilities in Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. HIVST was distributed either through secondary (partn…

  • Modelling costs of community-based HIV self-testing programmes in Southern Africa at scale

    Open AccessMarc d’Elbée, Gabriela B Gomez et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2021

    BACKGROUND: Following success demonstrated with the HIV Self-Testing AfRica Initiative, HIV self-testing (HIVST) is being added to national HIV testing strategies in Southern Africa. An analysis of the costs of scaling up HIVST is needed to inform national plans, but there is a dearth of evidence on methods for forecasting costs at scale from pilot projects. Econometric cost functions (ECFs) apply statistical inference to predict costs; however, …

  • Usability and acceptability of self-testing for hepatitis C virus infection among the general population in the Nile Delta region of Egypt

    Open AccessElena Ivanova Reipold, Ahmed Farahat et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2021

    Our study demonstrates the high usability and acceptability of oral fluid HCVST in a general population. Further studies are needed to establish the optimal positioning of self-testing alongside facility-based testing to expand access to HCV diagnosis in both general and high-risk populations