2023 · PLoS neglected tropical diseases · open access
Assessing the prevalence of Female Genital Schistosomiasis and comparing the acceptability and performance of health worker-collected and self-collected cervical-vaginal swabs using PCR testing among women in North-Western Tanzania: The ShWAB study
Ursini et al.
The finding, in our words
In north-western Tanzania, self-collected cervical-vaginal swabs and urine were used for PCR detection of Female Genital Schistosomiasis; self-sampling was highly acceptable and detected more cases than operator-collected swabs, supporting its use in decentralised screening programmes.
A paraphrase to the Library’s standard, never the abstract. The source is one link away and is always the authority.
Sexual minority men found finger-stick blood and rectal swabs more challenging to self-collect than other specimens. Barriers to returning samples included low confidence in self-collection and concerns about transit delays, while motivators were status confirmation and limited clinic access; real-time video support could improve uptake in future decentralised testing programmes.
Higher engagement in regular HIV and STI testing was associated with incident STIs and health seeking behaviours, and participants rated self-sampling as convenient.
Among 92 patients on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, 79.3 per cent returned home-collected kits comprising dried blood spots, urine, and oropharyngeal swabs. Nearly 87.7 per cent were extremely to moderately satisfied with avoiding clinic visits, and mean turnaround fell from 17 to 5 days, showing self-collection is a feasible, patient-centric model for decentralised sexual health and SARS-CoV-2 screening.
Saberi et al., Open forum infectious diseases · source ↗
Intervention mapping identified stigma, privacy, and time constraints as key barriers to self-sampling for HIV and sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men. Developing tailored digital outreach, role-model narratives, and peer-to-peer test distribution addresses these barriers to support uptake of remote home self-collection programs.
Leenen et al., Frontiers in reproductive health · source ↗
Home-based self-collection of urine and vaginal swabs proved acceptable to young South Africans, with most finding it easy and not embarrassing. The study detected high rates of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections that would be missed by routine care, supporting decentralised surveillance and screening programmes in low- and middle-income settings.