Abstract
BackgroundAccessible, safe, and client-centered SARS-CoV-2 testing services are an effective way to halt its transmission. Testing enables infected individuals to isolate or quarantine to prevent further transmission. In countries with limited health systems and laboratory capacity, it can be challenging to provide accessible and safe screening for COVID-19. Self-testing provides a convenient, private, and safe testing option; however, it also raises important concerns about lack of counseling and ensuring timely reporting of self-test results to national surveillance systems. Investigating community members’ views and perceptions regarding SARS-CoV-2 self-testing is crucial to inform the most effective and safe strategies for implementing said testing.ObjectiveWe aimed to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 self-testing was useful to diagnose and prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 for populations in low-resource settings and under which circumstances it would be acceptable.MethodsThis multisite, mixed methods, observational study will be conducted in 9 countries—Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, and South Africa—and will consists of 2 components: cross-sectional surveys and interviews (semistructured and group) among 4 respondent groupings: the general population, general population representatives, health care workers, and decision-makers. General population and health care worker survey responses will be analyzed separately from each other, using bivariate and multivariate inferential analysis and descriptive statistics. Semistructured interviews and group interviews will be audiorecorded, transcribed, and coded for thematic comparative analysis.ResultsAs of November 19, 2021, participant enrollment is ongoing; 4364 participants have been enrolled in the general population survey, and 2233 participants have been enrolled in the health care workers survey. In the qualitative inquiry, 298 participants have been enrolled. We plan to complete data collection by December 31, 2021 and publish results in 2022 via publications, presentations at conferences, and dissemination events specifically targeted at local decision-makers, civil society, and patient groups.ConclusionsThe views and perceptions of local populations are crucial in the discussion of the safest strategies for implementing SARS-CoV-2 self-testing. We intend to identify sociocultural specificities that may hinder or accelerate the widespread utilization of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/33088
Highlights
As of November 19, 2021, participant enrollment is ongoing; 4364 participants have been enrolled in the general population survey, and 2233 participants have been enrolled in the health care workers survey
COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which was first identified in December 2019 [1]
We propose to address the evidence gap by conducting a multicountry research study on local population’s values and preferences for SARS-CoV-2 self-testing
Summary
COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which was first identified in December 2019 [1]. The use of SARS-CoV-2 self-tests that have acceptable performance in terms of diagnostic accuracy in low- and middle-income countries could help reduce COVID-19 transmission by enabling the rapid identification of those infected. We propose to address the evidence gap by conducting a multicountry research study on local population’s values and preferences for SARS-CoV-2 self-testing. This global protocol details the harmonized objectives, methodologies, and ethics principles that will guide the implementation of this research in all participating countries to address the question: How acceptable would SARS-CoV-2 self-testing be, to diagnose and prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, for populations in low-resource settings, and under which circumstances?
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