Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a social network-based, peer-led HIV self-testing intervention among men in two Ugandan fishing communities, 2022.

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorMatovu, KB Joseph
dc.contributor.authorNamwama, Aisha Twahiri
dc.contributor.authorKemigisha, Linda
dc.contributor.authorTaasi, Geoffrey
dc.contributor.authorNakabugo, Jennipher
dc.contributor.authorWandabwa, Julius
dc.contributor.authorBogart, M. Laura
dc.contributor.authorFakier, Nuraan
dc.contributor.authorWanyenze, K. Rhoda
dc.contributor.authorOlupot-Olupot, Peter
dc.contributor.authorMusinguzi, Joshua
dc.contributor.authorSerwadda, David
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-01T13:24:58Z
dc.date.available2026-07-01T13:24:58Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.descriptionResearch article
dc.description.abstractBackground: Social network-based interventions can improve uptake of health interventions. However, limited evidence exists on their feasibility and acceptability in fishing community settings. We assessed the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a social network-based, peer-led HIV self-testing (HIVST) intervention among men in Uganda. Methods: The PEer-led HIVST intervention for MEN (PEST4MEN) is a pilot intervention conducted among men in Kalangala and Buvuma districts. Baseline data were collected in July 2022 and follow-up data in September 2022. The intervention was implemented through 22 trained lay men (“peer-leaders”) who received training in HIVST use and distribution processes and requested to refer at least 20 male members from their social networks for study eligibility screening. To be eligible, men had to be aged 15 years or older with unknown or HIV-negative status. After the baseline interview, men were requested to pick two oral fluid-based HIVST kits from their peer-leaders. The intervention was deemed feasible if peer-leaders gave-out >80% of the kits and acceptable if>80% of the kits’ recipients used them to self-test for HIV. At the follow-up interview, newly diagnosed HIV-positive men were asked if they had linked to HIV care. Data were descriptively analyzed using STATA version 16.0. Results: Of 475 screened men, 400 (84.2%) met the eligibility criteria and completed the baseline interview. Of these, 56.7% (n=227) were engaged in fishing or fishing-related activities. At follow-up, 361 men (90.2%) were interviewed; 98.3% (n=355) received at least one kit from their peer-leaders. Nearly all (99.1%, n=352) kits’ recipients used them to self-test for HIV. Of the 352 HIV self-testers, 51 men (14.5%) had reactive (positive) HIV self-test results. Nearly onethird of the HIV self-tested men (31.4%, n=16) were first-time HIV-positive testers. Of these, 87.5% (n=14) went for confirmatory HIV testing, 50.0% (n=7) were confirmed as HIV-positive and 71.4% (n=5) were linked to HIV care. Conclusion: Our peer-led HIVST intervention was feasible and acceptable and identified newly diagnosed HIVpositive men who were linked to HIV care. However, while these results are promising, we recommend additional research in a randomized controlled trial prior to the eventual roll-out of this intervention. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.Gov: NCT05685498 (retrospectively registered on January 17, 2023). Keywords Peer-led, HIVST, Men, Fishing communities, Uganda
dc.description.sponsorshipThe European Union (grant number: TMA2019CDF-2729-PEST4MEN) ; Busitema University.
dc.identifier.citationMatovu, J. K., Namwama, A. T., Kemigisha, L., Taasi, G., Nakabugo, J., Wandabwa, J., Bogart, L. M., Fakier, N., Wanyenze, R. K., Olupot-Olupot, P., Musinguzi, J., & Serwadda, D. (2025). Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a social network-based, peer-led HIV self-testing intervention among men in two Ugandan fishing communities, 2022. Archives of Public Health, 83(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01511-9
dc.identifier.urihttps://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/7063
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBMC
dc.relation.ispartofseriesArchives of Public Health ; (2025) 83:23
dc.titleFeasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a social network-based, peer-led HIV self-testing intervention among men in two Ugandan fishing communities, 2022.
dc.typeArticle
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a social network-based, peer-led HIV self-testing_2025.pdf
Size:
2.78 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed to upon submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Department of Public Health