Objectives
To determine HIV prevalence
and assess the acceptability of HIV testing using oral fluid as a point of care
(PoC) test method among returnee migrants in a rural area of Bangladesh.
Design
A cross-sectional study.
Methods
Matlab is a rural area
southeast of Dhaka where icddr,b hosts a health and demographic surveillance
system covering 225 826 people of whom 934 are returnee migrants. The sample
size of 304 was proportionately distributed among randomly selected households.
HIV antibodies in oral fluid were tested using OraQuick Rapid HIV 1/2 antibody
test. To understand reasons of acceptability a short questionnaire was applied
and 32 in-depth interviews were conducted.
Results
Of 304 returnee migrants
approached, 97.4% accepted the test. The prevalence of HIV was 0.3% without a
confirmatory blood test. Reasons for acceptance included easy accessibility of
the test at the door-step which saved resources (i.e., time and money),
comfortable test-procedure without any pain and fear, and receiving quick
results with confidentiality. Some described knowing HIV status as a way to
‘get certified’ (of sexual fidelity) and to confront a prevailing silent stigma
against migrants. Acceptability was moreover found to be grounded in icddr,b's
institutional reputation and its close relationship with the local community.
Conclusions
The PoC oral fluid test
for HIV has shown for the first time that assessment of HIV prevalence in
rural-based returnee migrants is possible. Findings also suggest that PoC oral
fluid test has the potential of increasing accessibility to HIV testing as it
was found to be highly acceptable.
Objectives
To determine HIV prevalence
and assess the acceptability of HIV testing using oral fluid as a point of care
(PoC) test method among returnee migrants in a rural area of Bangladesh.
Design
A cross-sectional study.
Methods
Matlab is a rural area
southeast of Dhaka where icddr,b hosts a health and demographic surveillance
system covering 225 826 people of whom 934 are returnee migrants. The sample
size of 304 was proportionately distributed among randomly selected households.
HIV antibodies in oral fluid were tested using OraQuick Rapid HIV 1/2 antibody
test. To understand reasons of acceptability a short questionnaire was applied
and 32 in-depth interviews were conducted.
Results
Of 304 returnee migrants
approached, 97.4% accepted the test. The prevalence of HIV was 0.3% without a
confirmatory blood test. Reasons for acceptance included easy accessibility of
the test at the door-step which saved resources (i.e., time and money),
comfortable test-procedure without any pain and fear, and receiving quick
results with confidentiality. Some described knowing HIV status as a way to
‘get certified’ (of sexual fidelity) and to confront a prevailing silent stigma
against migrants. Acceptability was moreover found to be grounded in icddr,b's
institutional reputation and its close relationship with the local community.
Conclusions
The PoC oral fluid test
for HIV has shown for the first time that assessment of HIV prevalence in
rural-based returnee migrants is possible. Findings also suggest that PoC oral
fluid test has the potential of increasing accessibility to HIV testing as it
was found to be highly acceptable.
Reasons for accepting the point of care oral fluid test for HIV
| Reasons for accepting the testa | N = 296, % (95% CI) |
| Home-based test | 75.3 (70.1–79.9) |
| Easy and rapid test | 69.7 (64.2–74.7) |
| Pain-free test | 65.9 (60.3–71.1) |
| Free of cost | 57.1 (51.4–62.6) |
| Confidential test | 22.3 (17.9–27.4) |
| Test result of icddr,b is acceptable | 12.8 (9.5–17.2) |
| Confidence on the test result | 10.8 (7.7–14.9) |
CI, confidence interval.
aRefers to multiple responses.
Full article at: http://goo.gl/CNqU3j
By:
aInternational Centre for Diarrhoeal
Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b)
bSave the Children in Bangladesh, Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2016 Mar; 11(Suppl 1): S52–S58.
Published online 2016 Mar 10. doi: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000267
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv insight
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