Nurses' perspectives on user-friendly self-sampling interventions for diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections among young women in eThekwini district municipality: a nominal group technique

• Published in: BMC health services research 2024-01, Vol.24 (1), p.106-106, Article 106
• Main Authors: Jaya, Ziningi N, Mapanga, Witness, Moetlhoa, Boitumelo, Mashamba-Thompson, Tivani P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Asymptomatic; Barriers; Beliefs, opinions and attitudes; Clinics; Data collection; Demographic aspects; Diagnosis; E-health; eHealth solutions; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infections; Intervention; Medical diagnosis; Medical examination; Medical personnel; Medical research; Nurses; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patients; Research methodology; Scheduling; Self-sampling; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - diagnosis; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually transmitted infections; Social Stigma; STD; Strategies; Young women
• ISSN: 1472-6963; 1472-6963
• DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10353-6

Syndromic management in the main non-laboratory-based management approach for sexually transmitted infections (STI) in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) but it has limitations. Self-sampling has been proven as a suitable alternative approach to help improve management STIs by improving access to diagnosis among vulnerable populations. We sought to determine health workers' perspectives on user-friendly self-sampling interventions for STIs among young women in eThekwini District Municipality. Healthcare workers providing STI healthcare services in the study location participated in a nominal group technique (NGT) workshop. The NGT workshop was aimed enabling collaboration with key health providers in identifying user-friendly self-sampling interventions for diagnosis of STIs among young women. Data collection was conducted in two phases: phase 1 determined barrier that hinder young women from accessing current STI healthcare services and phase 2 focused on determining the key strategies for self-sampling interventions to diagnose STIs in young women. Thematic analysis and percentage form analysis were used to examine qualitative and quantitative data respectively. The following barriers were identified: negligence; myths about STIs; fear of judgement; denial; operating hours; lack of knowledge of STI symptoms and safe sex practices; and stigma associated with STIs. The following strategies were suggested: hand out self-sampling kits at popular restaurants; collect self-sampling kits from security guard at primary healthcare clinics (PHCs); receive STI diagnostic results via SMS or email or the clinic for treatment; improve youth friendly services at PHCs; educate the public on proper use of the kits. Education about STIs and handing out self-sampling kits at clinics, universities, schools, pharmacies or via outreach teams were ranked high priority strategies. The findings highlight the need to address stigma and fear of judgment and provide comprehensive education to improve healthcare-seeking behaviour in young women. Additionally, the study also indicates that using eHealth solutions could significantly enhance the accessibility and efficiency of STI healthcare services in LMICs.