Feasibility and economic costs of syphilis self-testing to expand test uptake among gay, bisexual and transgender men: results from a randomised controlled trial in Zimbabwe

Definate Nhamo, Collin Mangenah, Gwendoline Chapwanya, Takudzwa Mamvuto, Imelda Mahaka, Clarisse Sri-Pathmanathan, Rashida A. Ferrand, Katharina Kranzer, Fern Terris-Prestholt, Michael Marks, Joseph D. Tucker Access to syphilis testing and treatment for men who have sex with men is frequently limited. A two-armed randomised controlled trial compared feasibility and costs of facility-based syphilis testing with self-testing among men who have sex with men in Zimbabwe. Overall, 58% and 74% of facility- and self-testing arm participants took up and subsequently completed syphilis testing, respectively. Syphilis self-testing can increase test uptake among men who have sex with men in Zimbabwe. However, some barriers limit uptake, including lack of self-testing and poor service access.
Source: Sexual Health - Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Source Type: research