title: Approval and potential use of over-the-counter HIV self-tests: the opinion of participants in a street based HIV rapid testing program in Spain.
abstract: HIV self-testing, not yet available in Spain, is a strategy thought to be able to increase the number of people tested and testing frequency. 3,373 attenders of a street-based HIV rapid-testing program gave their opinion on authorizing over-the-counter self-tests and a potentially shorter lead time if self-tests were available. 88.0 % of participants were in favor of authorization, 9.2 % had no clear opinion and 2.8 % were against. 54.6 % of men who have sex with men (MSM), 38.4 % of men who have sex with women and 36.3 % of women acknowledged a potential for lead time reduction. Potential lead time was associated with being ≥35 years, having a university degree, never injected drugs, previous HIV tests and being concerned about an HIV positive result, and in MSM, also having ≥5 partners. Self-testing seems a promising strategy for Spain: its authorization is supported by nearly all potential users and almost three quarters of MSM would have opted to advance their current testing if self-tests were available.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Pabellón 12. Calle Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rosales-Statkus
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de la Fuente
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández-Balbuena
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernàndez-López
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoyos
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: M José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Belza
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011639:Public Opinion; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D057545:Social Stigma; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires