The future of oral fluid HIV testing in South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:'Oh no, I feel uncomfortable with blood, I don't know if I want to take the HIV test!This is a general attitude towards HIV/AIDS inside a voluntary testing and counselling(VCT) environment and it is enhanced by numerous superstitions and misconceptionsregarding HIV/AIDS which still occur in a South African context. Yet there is an alternative,approved test for HIV/AIDS available which does not require a blood sample.Testing for the presence of HIV/AIDS by means of an oral specimen has been used for morethan 10 years, while the rapid version thereof received official endorsement in the USA in2004. Although the oral fluid HIV testing option is utilized in SA, oral fluid tests have still tobe used in an official capacity. No policy, guidelines or legislation regarding any aspect oforal fluid HIV testing currently exists in SA. As a result, this alternative HIV testing methodis not well-known among the general South African public.The aim of this research paper will be to raise - and positively influence - the profile andimage of oral HIV testing as an attractive alternative to HIV testing that requires a bloodspecimen. The foundation for this will be laid by proving that the lack of the need for a bloodspecimen in oral fluid HIV testing positively influences testing for HIV.This research project will further suggest a specific promotional strategy for oral testing withthe aim of convincing more individuals to test for HIV. This strategy will be based on itsdistinguishing characteristic – namely the absence of blood – and entails the following: Aposter campaign will be suggested to create awareness and promote these tests as a more'user friendly version of HIV testing. At ground level the strategy will be carried out bysetting up mobile HIV/AIDS testing units, specializing in oral fluid HIV testing. Moreovercertain guidelines will be suggested for oral test administration.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University