title: Low knowledge and anecdotal use of unauthorized online HIV self-test kits among attendees at a street-based HIV rapid testing programme in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to estimate the percentage of potential users who know that unauthorized HIV self-tests can be purchased online and the percentage of those who have already used them, and to determine socio-demographic and behavioural correlates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire was employed to collect data from attendees at a street-based HIV testing programme. Logistic regression for rare events was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 3340 participants, 5.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.5-6.0%) had knowledge of self-tests being sold online and 7.5% (95% CI 6.6-8.5%) thought they existed but had never seen them; only 0.6% (95% CI 0.3-0.9%) had ever used one. Knowing that self-tests are sold online (odds ratio (OR) 3.6, 95% CI 2.4-5.4) and using them (OR 7.3, 95% CI 2.2-23.8) were associated with having undergone more than two previous HIV tests. Use was also associated with being neither Spanish nor Latin American (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.2-12.0) and with having a university degree (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the time of the study, the impact on the population of issues related to the use of unauthorized tests was very low. However, media coverage following the approval of self-testing in the USA might have changed the situation.
authors: Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain. Electronic address: mbelza@isciii.es.
authors: M José
authors: MJ
authors: Belza
authors: Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Figueroa
authors: CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors: M Elena
authors: ME
authors: Rosales-Statkus
authors: CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Mónica
authors: M
authors: Ruiz
authors: CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Vallejo
authors: CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: de la Fuente
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Early diagnosis; HIV; Self-testing