HIV self-testing: Knowledge and attitude of Healthcare workers towards its recommendations in Ethiopia
HIV self-testing: Knowledge and attitude of Healthcare workers towards its recommendations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70215/hajhbs.v1i2.73Keywords:
HIV/AIDS, self-testing, knowledge, attitude, healthcare workers, EthiopiaAbstract
Background: Effective Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention strategies require healthcare workers (HCWs) to understand and recommend HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) to patients. However, there is limited evidence on HCWs' knowledge and attitudes toward HIVST in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude towards HIVST and associated factors among HCWs in public hospitals of the North Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the North Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, from March 01 to April 01, 2023. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 413 participants. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. EpiData version 3.1 was used for data entry, and SPSS version 24.0 software was used for data analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant in multivariable binary logistic regression.
Results: A total of 413 participants enrolled in this study with a response rate of 97.8%. Overall, 54.5% (95% CI: 49.4–59.8) of the participants had high knowledge and 54.2% (95% CI: 49.4, 59.1) had good attitude towards HIVST recommendations. In addition, ever tested for HIV/AIDS (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.3–7.2) and received training in the area of HIV/other STIs (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.01–2.3) were significantly associated with the knowledge of HIVST. While knowledge of HIVST (AOR = 2.3, 95%CI: 1.5–3.3) and received training in the area of HIV/AIDS/, other STIs (AOR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.3–2.9) were significantly associated with the attitude towards the recommendation of HIVST.
Conclusions: The knowledge and attitudes of HCWs regarding HIVST were found to be comparably low. It is essential to develop and implement comprehensive training programs for HCWs that cover HIVST procedures, benefits, and counselling techniques.
