TY - JOUR
T1 - HIV self-testing lived experiences of female sex workers in the Garden City, Eastern Nigeria
AU - Anyiam, Felix Emeka
AU - Sibiya, Maureen Nokuthula
AU - Oladimeji, Olanrewaju
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
PY - 2025/1/1
Y1 - 2025/1/1
N2 - Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) provides a private and convenient alternative to traditional testing, addressing barriers such as stigma, fear of discrimination, and accessibility challenges. Female sex workers (FSWs) face a disproportionate burden of HIV and limited access to facility-based testing, making HIVST a critical tool for advancing Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 2030 targets. Objectives: To explore the lived experiences of FSWs with HIVST and identify strategies to enhance its uptake and accessibility in Nigeria. Design: This was a qualitative study utilizing a phenomenological approach to explore the shared lived experiences of participants. Methods: This qualitative study utilized in-depth interviews with 15 brothel-based FSWs in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Participants were purposively sampled to capture diverse perspectives. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVIVO-12 software to identify key themes. Results: HIVST was highly accepted due to its convenience, privacy, and autonomy. However, barriers such as cost, limited awareness, perceived inaccuracy of results, and anxiety about self-testing were reported. Participants emphasized affordability, peer support, and targeted education as key facilitators. While concerns about stigma and result interpretation were evident, participants recommended integrating HIVST into public health programs, subsidizing test kits, and expanding awareness initiatives to improve adoption. Conclusion: HIVST has significant potential to increase HIV testing rates among FSWs in Nigeria. Addressing financial, educational, and structural barriers, while leveraging peer-driven support and community engagement, is essential for optimizing HIVST uptake. These strategies align with UNAIDS’ 2030 goals and can contribute to reducing HIV-related disparities among key populations. Registration: Not applicable.
AB - Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) provides a private and convenient alternative to traditional testing, addressing barriers such as stigma, fear of discrimination, and accessibility challenges. Female sex workers (FSWs) face a disproportionate burden of HIV and limited access to facility-based testing, making HIVST a critical tool for advancing Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 2030 targets. Objectives: To explore the lived experiences of FSWs with HIVST and identify strategies to enhance its uptake and accessibility in Nigeria. Design: This was a qualitative study utilizing a phenomenological approach to explore the shared lived experiences of participants. Methods: This qualitative study utilized in-depth interviews with 15 brothel-based FSWs in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Participants were purposively sampled to capture diverse perspectives. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVIVO-12 software to identify key themes. Results: HIVST was highly accepted due to its convenience, privacy, and autonomy. However, barriers such as cost, limited awareness, perceived inaccuracy of results, and anxiety about self-testing were reported. Participants emphasized affordability, peer support, and targeted education as key facilitators. While concerns about stigma and result interpretation were evident, participants recommended integrating HIVST into public health programs, subsidizing test kits, and expanding awareness initiatives to improve adoption. Conclusion: HIVST has significant potential to increase HIV testing rates among FSWs in Nigeria. Addressing financial, educational, and structural barriers, while leveraging peer-driven support and community engagement, is essential for optimizing HIVST uptake. These strategies align with UNAIDS’ 2030 goals and can contribute to reducing HIV-related disparities among key populations. Registration: Not applicable.
KW - HIV self-testing
KW - Nigeria
KW - affordability
KW - female sex workers
KW - qualitative study
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105021460104
U2 - 10.1177/17455057251385803
DO - 10.1177/17455057251385803
M3 - Article
C2 - 41215725
AN - SCOPUS:105021460104
SN - 1745-5057
VL - 21
JO - Women's Health
JF - Women's Health
ER -