PH ready for HIV self-testing, says new UP Manila study

HIV self-testing (HIVST) was found to be highly acceptable to target users and was welcomed as an additional HIV testing approach to the current system at national level.

This was revealed by Dr. Emmanuel Baja, an epidemiologist at the National Institutes of Health - University of the Philippines Manila, and his research team who led the study in the Philippines to determine the readiness and acceptance of HIVST among target age groups that are vulnerable to rapidly increasing HIV epidemic in the country.

The full study can be openly accessed at BMC Public Health (January 09, 2020 issue).

The Philippines is one of the top countries in Asia where increasing rates of HIV/AIDS infection is dominant and testing uptake is poor. In some countries where HIV infection rates are high such as China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, there have been recorded successful implementation of HIVST, which is an innovative strategy recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to increase testing uptake among key populations such as men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW).

In the study of the research team of Dr. Baja, they explored the attitudes and perceptions of HIVST among MSM and TGW and determined if HIVST is an acceptable and feasible strategy to increase uptake of HIV testing.

“Understanding their [MSM and TGW] point-of-view would reveal if these groups of people would consider HIVST strategy in the country,” Dr. Baja mentioned.

They conducted interview among key informants which included professions such as program implementers, non-governmental organizations,doctors and academics, service providers and members associated with reference laboratories for HIV in the country. Results showed that MSM and TGW welcomed the idea of introducing HIVST, especially blood-based diagnostic kits which can be accessed through reputable outlets. In addition, respondents liked the convenience and confidentiality of HIVST in a stigmatized context. They also shared enthusiasm for HIVST but also raised concerns regarding antecedents within the health, regulatory and legal system that were at odds with the beneficiaries’desire for convenience and confidential HIV testing in a stigmatized context. The study also showed that some respondents therefore felt improving some aspects of the current health system were more of a priority than the introduction of HIVST.

To date, the Philippines does not have a HIVST policy or any formal regulation of HIVST kits. However, unregulatedHIVST kits can be purchased through the internet therefore, the study of Dr. Baja’s research team is an important evidence to implement regulations on HIVST. The study concluded that HIVST was overwhelmingly regarded as a strategy that has the potential to increase testing uptake among keypopulations. In addition, the urgency of this HIV epidemic calls for a proactive response from stakeholders.

The Philippines requires innovation,vision and leadership within its health system in order to curb the world’s leading HIV epidemic.

The project was in cooperation with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medical (LSTM) in United Kingdom and was part of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development – Department of Science and Technology (PCHRD-DOST) supported project called HIV Gaming, Engaging and Testing.