TY - JOUR
T1 - SARS-CoV-2 self-testing in Peru
T2 - a cross-sectional survey of values and attitudes of the general population
AU - Martínez-Pérez, Guillermo Z.
AU - Shilton, Sonjelle
AU - Mallma Salazar, Patricia Silvia
AU - Pflucker Oses, Paola
AU - Torres-Slimming, Paola Alejandra
AU - Batheja, Deepshikha
AU - Banerji, Abhik
AU - Mallery, Amber
AU - Ivanova Reipold, Elena
AU - Carcamo, Cesar
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2023/7/5
Y1 - 2023/7/5
N2 - Objectives To assess the values of and attitudes towards the use of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection tests for self-testing in a rural and an urban area in Peru. Design Cross-sectional, street-based population survey. Setting A series of over 400 randomly selected street points in Valle del Mantaro and in Lima. Participants 438 respondents (203 female) participated. They were all older than 17 years and provided informed consent for participation. Intervention All respondents answered on the spot, a 35-item questionnaire developed in KoboToolbox. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcomes of interest were: likelihood to use a SARS-CoV-2 self-test; willingness to pay for a SARS-CoV-2 self-test and likelihood to comply with recommended actions following a positive SARS-CoV-2 self-test result. Bivariate analyses and Poisson regression (PR) analyses were performed to identify significant associations between dependent variables and independent variables pertaining to respondents' characteristics, risk perception and previous experiences with conventional COVID-19 testing. Results Of the 438 respondents, 51.49% had previous experience with conventional COVID-19 testing; 20.37% had COVID-19 disease; 86.96% accepted the idea of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing; and, 78.95% would be likely to use it if needed. Almost all (94.75%) would pay for a self-testing device (mean acceptable payment: US$10.4) if it was not provided free of charge by health authorities. Overall, 93.12%, 86.93% and 85.32% would self-isolate, report the results and warn their contacts, respectively. Being a female (adjusted PR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.09, p<0.018), having completed secondary education (adjusted PR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.37, p<0.024) and expressing likelihood to use self-testing (adjusted PR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.16, p<0.0.24) could be predictors of willingness to pay for a self-test. Conclusions Self-testing is perceived as an acceptable approach. Health authorities in Peru should facilitate access to this approach to complement healthcare facilities-led testing efforts for COVID-19. Future research is necessary to understand the impact of self-testing in case detection and pandemic control.
AB - Objectives To assess the values of and attitudes towards the use of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection tests for self-testing in a rural and an urban area in Peru. Design Cross-sectional, street-based population survey. Setting A series of over 400 randomly selected street points in Valle del Mantaro and in Lima. Participants 438 respondents (203 female) participated. They were all older than 17 years and provided informed consent for participation. Intervention All respondents answered on the spot, a 35-item questionnaire developed in KoboToolbox. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcomes of interest were: likelihood to use a SARS-CoV-2 self-test; willingness to pay for a SARS-CoV-2 self-test and likelihood to comply with recommended actions following a positive SARS-CoV-2 self-test result. Bivariate analyses and Poisson regression (PR) analyses were performed to identify significant associations between dependent variables and independent variables pertaining to respondents' characteristics, risk perception and previous experiences with conventional COVID-19 testing. Results Of the 438 respondents, 51.49% had previous experience with conventional COVID-19 testing; 20.37% had COVID-19 disease; 86.96% accepted the idea of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing; and, 78.95% would be likely to use it if needed. Almost all (94.75%) would pay for a self-testing device (mean acceptable payment: US$10.4) if it was not provided free of charge by health authorities. Overall, 93.12%, 86.93% and 85.32% would self-isolate, report the results and warn their contacts, respectively. Being a female (adjusted PR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.09, p<0.018), having completed secondary education (adjusted PR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.37, p<0.024) and expressing likelihood to use self-testing (adjusted PR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.16, p<0.0.24) could be predictors of willingness to pay for a self-test. Conclusions Self-testing is perceived as an acceptable approach. Health authorities in Peru should facilitate access to this approach to complement healthcare facilities-led testing efforts for COVID-19. Future research is necessary to understand the impact of self-testing in case detection and pandemic control.
KW - COVID-19
KW - EPIDEMIOLOGY
KW - PUBLIC HEALTH
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85163989463
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068980
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068980
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 37407037
AN - SCOPUS:85163989463
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 13
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 7
M1 - e068980
ER -
