Female sex workers' willingness to use HIV self-testing in Burkina Faso: analysis of cross-sectional respondent-driven sampling data

Kadari Cissé ^1* Henri Gautier Ouedraogo ¹ Odette KY-ZERBO ¹ Dinanibè KAMBIRE ¹ Désiré Lucien Dahourou ¹ Ter Tiero Elias DAH ² Sylvie ZIDA ¹ Célestine KI-TOE ³ Solanze DIOMA ³ Fatou SISSOKO ¹ Alexandre YUGBARE ¹ Abdoul Ibrahim OUEDRAOGO ¹ Smaila OUEDRAOGO ⁴ Seni Kouanda ^1,5

• ¹ Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Centre National de Recherche Scientifique de Technologique (CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
• ² Unité de formation et de recherche en sciences de la santé (UFR SS), Université Ledéa Bernard Ouédraogo, Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso
• ³ Sécrétariat Permanent du Conseil National de Lutte contre le SIDA et les IST (SP/CNLS-IST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
• ⁴ Unité de formation et de recherche sciences de la santé (UFR/SDS), Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
• ⁵ African Institute of Public Health, Ouagadougou, Kadiogo, Burkina Faso

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) is an approach that allows people to test for HIV and determine the results at home or in another private setting. It is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), particularly for key populations for achieving the first 95. The objective of this study was to evaluate the willingness to use HIVST among female sex workers (FSW) in Burkina Faso.Methods: We performed a biobehavioral cross-sectional study conducted in five regions in Burkina Faso. FSWs were recruited using the respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method. To evaluate FSW willingness to use HIVST, each participant was invited to answer by Yes or No the following question: “If you were offered an HIV self-test, would you use it?”. The determinants of willingness to use HIVST were identified using by Poisson-modified generalized estimating equation models.Results: A total of 1338 FSW were included in this study. The mean age was 28.1 years (standard deviation: 7.71 years), and 47.9% of FSW had attended at least secondary school. Nearly 21.1% had good knowledge of HIV transmission modes. One-third (28.8%) of FSW reported not using a condom during their last sexual intercourse with a nonpaying partner. Among the study participants, 89.5% (95% CI: 87.0; 91.6) were willing to use HIVST. The main determinants of FSW willingness to use HIVST were: being married (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 1.10 (95%CI: 1.01; 1.20) p=0.034), having first sex at the age greater than 18 years (aPR: 1.14 (95%CI: 1.02; 1.29) p=0.024), being member of an association (aPR: 1.10 (95%CI: 1.02; 1.18) p=0.014), being no current alcohol consumer (aPR : 1.06 (95%CI 1.01; 1.12) p=0.026)Conclusions: This study revealed good willingness to use HIVST among FSW. This is a promising means to increase HIV testing coverage and knowledge of HIV status among FSW and would then strengthen HIV prevention and care services.