Table 3 Characteristics of included studies

Burke et al., 2017

Uganda

To examine values and preferences related to HIVST among community members and health care providers in both mainland and high-risk fishing populations, including with sex workers and fishermen, in Rakai District, Uganda

Males & females

Interviews:

11 – females

10 – males

12 healthcare providersFGDs: 30 – males

25 - females

Not specified

Qualitative (interviews & focus group discussions)

Chipungu et al., 2017

Zambia

To examine the intention to link to care amongst potential HIVST users and the suitability of three linkage to care strategies in Lusaka Province, Zambia

Males & females

Quantitative: 1617 (60% females, 40% males) Qualitative: 64 participants

16–49 years

Mixed methods: Quantitative (cross sectional survey) & qualitative (focus group discussions)

Choko et al., 2011

Malawi

To investigate the potential of supervised oral HIV self-testing in Blantyre, Malawi.

Males & females

Quantitative:

147 – females

136 – males

Qualitative: 72 participants (6 groups of 12 participants each)

Median age = 27 years

Mixed methods: Quantitative (cross-sectional) & qualitative (interviews)

Choko et al., 2017

Malawi

To describe the views of pregnant women and their male partners on HIV self-test kits that are woman-delivered, alone or with an additional intervention.

Males & females

31- females

31 – males

Median age for men: 28.5 years; women: 23.5 years

Qualitative (focus group discussions & in-depth interviews)

Conserve et al., 2018

Tanzania

To investigate the reasons and strategies men used to encourage their peers to test for HIV and the outcomes in order to inform the development of a social network-based HIVST intervention for men called STEP (Self-Testing Education and Promotion)

Males

23

Mean age: 27.3 years

Qualitative (interviews)

Conserve et al., 2018

Tanzania

To assess men’s attitudes and personal agency towards HIV self-testing (HIVST) and confirmatory HIV testing in order to inform the development of the Tanzania STEP (Self-Testing Education and Promotion) Project, a peer-based HIV self-testing intervention for young men in Tanzania

Males

23

Mean age: 27.3 years

Qualitative (interviews)

Harichund et al., 2018

South Africa

To assess whether men or women in KwaZulu-Natal displayed a higher acceptance of HIVST and also explored factors that influenced and motivated their acceptability.

Males & females

12 -males;

28 -females

men: 19–37 years; women: 18–37 years

Qualitative (in-depth interviews, Focus group discussions)

Indravudh et al., 2017

Malawi & Zimbabwe

To identify young people’s preferences for HIV self-testing (HIVST) delivery, determines the relative strength of preferences and explores underlying behaviours and perceptions to inform youth-friendly services in southern Africa

Males & females

68 - females

54 – males

Qualitative:

8-female interviews (60 FGDs participants)

7 – male interviews (47 FGDs participants)

16–25 years

Mixed methods: Qualitative (interviews & focus group discussions); & experiments

Jennings et al., 2017

Tanzania

To assess perceived costs saved and costs incurred from use of HIVST kits in infrequently- or never-tested Tanzanian men.

Males

23

15 years & older

Qualitative (interviews)

Kelvin et al., 2016

South Africa

To document opinions about self-administered at-home oral HIV testing

Males & females

10 - females

10 - males

18 years & older

Qualitative (interviews)

Knight et al., 2017

South Africa

To assess the perceived usability and acceptability of HIVST among lay users using several self-test prototypes.

Males & females

27 - females;

23 – males

18 years & older

(Qualitative (interviews)

Makusha et al., 2015

South Africa

To explore: interest in HIV self-testing; potential distribution channels for HIV self-tests to target groups; perception of requirements for diagnostic technologies that would be most amenable to HIV self-testing and opinions on barriers and opportunities for HIV-linkage to care after receiving positive test results

Males & females

2: Government Officials; 4: NGOs; 2: Donors; 3 Academic Researchers; 1 Int. stakeholder

18 years & older

Qualitative (in-depth interviews)

Martinez Perez et al., 2016

South Africa

To examine the feasibility and acceptability of unsupervised oral self-testing for home use in an informal settlement of South Africa.

Males

11 - females;

9 - males

18 years & older

Qualitative (couple interviews, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions)

Matovu et al., 2018

Uganda

To explore HIVST perceptions, delivery strategies, and post-test experiences among pregnant women and their male partners in Central Uganda.

Males

17 - females;

15 - males

18 years & older

Qualitative (in-depth interviews)

Ngure et al., 2017

Kenya

To address key questions on feasibility, acceptability and use of HIV self-testing among HIV-uninfected persons initiating PrEP

Males

10 - females;

20 - males

27–38 years

Qualitative (in-depth interviews; focus group discussion) & qualitative

Ritchwood et al., 2019

South Africa

To elucidate concerns and issues regarding HIVST rollout among South African youth

Males & females

Phase 1 (FGDs):

16 females;

19 males,

Phase 2a (Observations):

10 females;

10 males

Phase 2b (Observations):

20 females;

20 males

18–24 years

Mixed methods: Qualitative (focus group discussions) & observations