Table 1 Training and Supervision, Time, Perception and Acceptability of Rapid Testing for Recent Infection for HIV among Health Care Workers in Blantyre District, Malawi, September 2019
n = 119 | n (%) or median and range |
|---|---|
Training and Supervision | |
What type of training do you recommend for new colleagues who will be doing recent infection testing? (select all that apply) | |
3- day MoH training | 109 (92%) |
On-site training by colleagues | 24 (20%) |
On-site training by recent infection site supervisors | 30 (25%) |
How many times have you met with your recent infection site supervisor every month (on average)? | median: 4 range:1-10 |
Which of the following written materials have you used when you perform a recent infection test (select all that apply)? | |
Integrated Algorithm | 109 (92%) |
Recent Infection SOP | 114 (96%) |
RTRI Job Aid | 102 (86%) |
Have you done a recency test QC exercise since your site started in April? | |
Yes | 116 (97%) |
No | 3 (3%) |
If yes, how many times have you completed a QC since April? | median: 3 range: 1-20 |
From your experience, what are some of the challenges in recent infection testing? | |
Extra time and work | 39 (33%) |
Not providing results to clients | 12 (10%) |
Collecting blood via finger prick | 11 (9%) |
Consent | 7 (6%) |
Trusting the results | 7 (6%) |
Time | |
How much additional time do you think recent infection testing takes per client? | |
≤ 9 min | 21 (18%) |
10 - 19 min | 18 (15%) |
≥ 20 min | 80 (67%) |
How much additional time does completing consent for recent infection testing take per client? | |
≤ 9 min | 83 (70%) |
10 - 19 min | 25 (21%) |
≥ 20 min | 11 (9%) |
What part of recent infection testing takes the most additional time? | |
Consent | 19 (16%) |
Finger pricks | 1 (1%) |
Documentation | 35 (29%) |
DBS | 35 (29%) |
Getting supplies ready | 7 (6%) |
Waiting for RTRI results | 20 (17%) |
Perceptions and Acceptability | |
Overall, performing the RTRI is: | |
Somewhat easy or very easy | 98 (82%) |
Neither difficult nor easy | 11 (9%) |
Somewhat easy or very difficult | 10 (8%) |
In your opinion, are clients accepting of recent infection surveillance? | |
Very accepting | 97 (82%) |
Somewhat accepting | 22 (18%) |
Not accepting | 0 (0%) |
How does performing the RTRI compare to performing another rapid test? | |
RTRIs are easier | 29 (24%) |
Same | 74 (62%) |
RTRIs are harder | 16 (14%) |
On average, how many additional finger pricks do you do when you perform a recent infection test (with one client)? | |
No additional fingerpricks, I can get enough blood from the fingerpricks for the HTS algorithm | 6 (5%) |
1 additional fingerprick | 52 (44%) |
2 additional fingerpricks | 43 (36%) |
>2 additional fingerpricks | 18 (15%) |
It is important to know if a person was infected with HIV in the last 12 months. | |
Agree | 101 (85%) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 9 (8%) |
Disagree | 9 (8%) |
People who take the recent infection test should know the outcome of it. | |
Agree | 41 (35%) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 27 (23%) |
Disagree | 51 (43%) |
It is easy to enter the results of the test and client information quickly in the recency register. | |
Agree | 108 (91%) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 3 (3%) |
Disagree | 8 (7%) |
The use of the recency test in HTS improves the services offered to the clients. | |
Agree | 45 (38%) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 37 (31%) |
Disagree | 37 (31%) |