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Alone But Supported

A Qualitative Study of an HIV Self-testing App in an Observational Cohort Study in South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID15333771
AuthorsRicky Janssen (0000-0002-4485-1152, Maastricht University, corresponding author), Nora Engel (0000-0002-1823-3908, Maastricht University), Aliasgar Esmail (0000-0002-1835-9252, University of Cape Town), Suzette Oelofse (0000-0001-7852-7804, University of Cape Town), Anja Krumeich (0000-0001-5399-3868, Maastricht University), Keertan Dheda (0000-0001-7709-5341, University of Cape Town), Nitika Pant Pai (0000-0002-4672-0500, McGill University Health Centre, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume24
Issue2
Pages467-474
Publication date2019-05-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS and Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1090-7165 • E-ISSN: 1573-3254
PublisherSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s10461-019-02516-6
PMID31049809
OpenAlexW2942556531
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited24

HIV self-testing has the potential to improve test access and uptake, but concerns remain regarding counselling and support during and after HIV self-testing. We investigated an oral HIV self-testing strategy together with a mobile phone/tablet application to see if and how it provided counselling and support, and how it might impact test access. This ethnographic study was nested within an ongoing observational cohort study in Cape Town, South Africa. Qualitative data was collected from study participants and study staff using 33 semi-structured interviews, one focus group discussion, and observation notes. The app provided information and guidance while also addressing privacy concerns. The flexibility and support provided by the strategy gave participants more control in choosing whom they included during testing. Accessibility concerns included smartphone access and usability issues for older and rural users. The adaptable access and support of this strategy could aid in expanding test access in South Africa

Business · Cohort · Flexibility (engineering · Focus group · Health psychology · Mobile phone · Observational study · Phone · Public health · Qualitative research · Sociology · Test (biology · Usability · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · HIV Research and Treatment · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Marketing

  • HIV Self-Testing Uptake and Intervention Strategies Among Men in Sub-Saharan Africa

    Open Access•Akeen Hamilton, Noah Thompson et al.•Frontiers in Public Health•2021

  • Impact of a personalised, digital, HIV self-testing app-based program on linkages and new infections in the township populations of South Africa

    Open Access•Nitika Pant Pai, Aliasgar Esmail et al.•BMJ Global Health•2021

  • How to make an app-based program work and show how it works

    Open Access•Ricky Janssen, Nora Engel et al.•PLOS Global Public Health•2025

  • Socioeconomic factors impact the risk of HIV acquisition in the township population of South Africa

    Open Access•Cindy Leung Soo, Nitika Pant Pai et al.•PLOS Global Public Health•2023

  • User Input in the Development of Digital Sexual Health Tools

    Open Access•Alicia J King, Ethan Cardwell et al.•Health Expectations•2025

  • HIV testing services and HIV self-testing programming within emergency care in Kenya

    Adam R Aluisio, Scarlett Bergam et al.•AIDS Care•2025

  • “There is no fear in me … well, that little fear is there”

    Open Access•Zoe Duby, Kim Jonas et al.•African Journal of AIDS Research•2020

  • Configuring the digital relationship landscape

    Open Access•Tom Witney, J Gabb et al.•Families Relationships and…•2024

  • You're only there on the phone'? A qualitative exploration of community, affect and agential capacity in HIV self-testing using a smartphone app

    Open Access•Ricky Janssen, Nora Engel et al.•Sociology of Health & Illness•2021

  • Platform encounters

    Open Access•Benjamin Marent, Flis Henwood•Sociology of Health & Illness•2021

  • Outcomes of a community-led online-based HIV self-testing demonstration among cisgender men who have sex with men and transgender women in the Philippines during the Covid-19 pandemic

    Open Access•Patrick C Eustaquio, Roberto Figuracion et al.•BMC Public Health•2022

  • Acceptability and Use of a Dual HIV/Syphilis Rapid Test and Accompanying Smartphone App to Facilitate Self- and Partner-Testing Among Cisgender Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex with Men

    Open Access•Iván C Balán, Javier López Rios et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2021

  • HiSTEP

    Open Access•Keith J Horvath, John Mark Bwanika et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2021

  • Self-Testing for Dementia

    Open Access•Alexandra Kapeller, M L De Boer et al.•Journal of Medical Humanities•2024

  • Supervised and Unsupervised Self-Testing for HIV in High- and Low-Risk Populations

    Open Access•Nitika Pant Pai, Jigyasa Sharma et al.•PLoS Medicine•2013

  • “I did not see a need to get tested before, everything was going well with my health”

    Shema Tariq, Hoffman et al.•AIDS Care•2018

  • Stumbling Blocks at the Clinic

    Open Access•Brendan Maughan-Brown, Caroline Kuo et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2017

  • What Should the Ideal HIV Self-Test Look Like? A Usability Study of Test Prototypes in Unsupervised HIV Self-Testing in Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa

    Open Access•Roger Peck, Roger B Peck et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2014

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    Open Access•Elizabeth H Bradley, Leslie A Curry et al.•Health Services Research•2007

  • The Handbook of Science and Technology Studies

    Open Access•Andrés Aybar•Revista de Sociología•2017

Unique citing works14
Citations per year2,33
Citation span2020 - 2025 (6)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 14
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