title: Acceptance of self-testing for increased vaginal pH in different subsets of Ugandan women.
abstract: We assessed the acceptance of self-testing for vaginal pH in 344 Ugandan women in different clinical settings. Women tested themselves by insertion of a gloved finger into the vagina to test vaginal pH and provide a smear on a glass slide. None of the tested women found the test very difficult: 8% found it somewhat difficult, 16% rather easy and 76% very easy to do. Of the 20% who found it difficult to read the test result, more women were attending a family planning clinic or had a higher diploma (P = 0.001). Pregnant women were least likely to understand of the meaning of the test, while those visiting family planning clinics had the opposite experience. HIV-infected women were most motivated to accept: 95% would be happy to use the test more often if requested, and another 3.5% felt they might be better motivated to do repeat testing after extra explanation. Self-sampling of vaginal pH is well accepted by Ugandan women. Our new method also allows diagnostic work-up by formal microscopy. Before commencing large-scale population screening, unexpected reactions of different subpopulations should be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ob/Gyn, University Hospital, Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. gilbert.donders@femicare.net
authors.forename: G G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Donders
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andabati
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donders
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michiels
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eggermont
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lulé
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D011934:Reagent Strips; D016353:Self-Examination; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014454:Uganda; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011934:Reagent Strips