HIV Blood Self- Testing : Population Welcomes Method

A study carried out in the town of Yaounde and Douala shows high levels of acceptability and usability of HIV blood self-testing among Female Sex Workers (FSW) and other vulnerable groups to HIV. The Head of the Division of Health Operations Research at the Ministry of Public Health, Professor Zoung-Kanyi Bissek revealed last Thursday February 2, 2023 in Yaounde during a ceremony to present the results of a study which assesses the Feasibility, Acceptability and Usability of HIV Blood Self-Testing to the Ministry of Public Health.
The Head of Operations Research further explained that usability of the method was limited by problems in interpreting results and waste management of the kit after usage. “The management of potentially infectious waste from self-testing remains a major challenge. The fear is that the waste management is not too favourable for the type of kit used,” Prof Bissek explained. Through the research, officials from the Ministry of Public Health perceived HIV blood self-testing as an alternative to salivary HIV self-testing adopted in the National HIV Self-Testing Guidelines in Cameroon.
According to one of the researchers, Dr Ateba Ndongo Francis, the study was conducted from November 2021 to July 2022 and data collection took place between 11 to 22 June 2022 in Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and/or Drop-In Centres (hot spots) i...