Impact and acceptability of HIV self-testing for trans men and trans women: A mixed-methods subgroup analysis of the SELPHI randomised controlled trial and process evaluation in England and Wales.

BACKGROUND

Globally, trans people are disproportionately affected by HIV, but research on strategies to increase testing are limited. SELPHI is a randomised-controlled-trial (RCT) of 10,135

METHODS

SELPHI recruited using social networking and trans focused social media. Participants were randomised 60/40 to baseline HIVST (Biosure™) (BT) vs no baseline HIVST (nBT); and at 3-months (if completed the survey and reported recent CAI) 50/50 to 3-monthly HIVST (RT) vs no repeat HIVST (nRT). Outcomes were self-reported through online surveys. We conducted a qualitative study of semi-structured peer-led participant interviews (

FINDINGS

SELPHI recruited and randomised 118 trans men and trans women (94 trans men, 24 trans women), of whom 20 (16 trans men, 4 trans women) underwent the second randomisation. Median age at baseline was 29 (IQR: 22, 37), 79% were white, 79% were UK born, 37% had degree level education, and 31% had never tested for HIV. 62% (

INTERPRETATION

HIVST significantly increased testing uptake and frequency in trans men and trans people overall, although recruitment and retention of trans women was low. HIVST acceptability was high and indicates easy access to this novel technology may increase HIV testing access for this key population.

Informations de copyright

© 2021 The Authors.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Prof. Rodger reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study; Prof. Phillips reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study; Prof. Bonell reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study; Dr. Burns reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study; Prof. Dunn reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study; Prof McCormack reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study; Dr. Lampe reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study; Prof. McCormack reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study; Dr. Speakman reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study; Dr. Witzel reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study; Peter Weatherburn reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study. All other authors report no conflicts of interest.