{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,2]],"date-time":"2026-06-02T02:43:54Z","timestamp":1780368234797,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,11]],"date-time":"2024-06-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1718064000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":10,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000200","name":"United States Agency for International Development","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["72038619CA00001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["72038619CA00001"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000200","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Int AIDS Soc."],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>To achieve epidemic control of infectious diseases, engaging higher\u2010burden populations with accessible diagnostic services is critical. HIV self\u2010testing (HIVST) is a promising option.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>We implemented an online HIVST programme for key populations across India. Eligible clients were 18 years or older, self\u2010reported a negative or unknown HIV status and reported not taking antiretroviral therapy. Clients who reported a prior HIV diagnosis were not eligible to receive an HIVST kit. HIVST clients received kits via courier or in person at pre\u2010determined pick\u2010up points supported by trained counselling staff. Virtual counsellors engaged clients online and by phone and offered support to register, access, and complete HIVST free of cost. Virtual counsellors supported clients to report results and engage with follow\u2010up services. Follow\u2010up included linking clients with a positive result to confirmatory testing and HIV care services. We assessed programmatic data across HIV continuum outcomes and conducted a qualitative evaluation through interviews with purposively sampled clients.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Between 30 June 2021 and 30 September 2022, 5324 clients ordered an HIVST kit (76% men, 13% women, 7% transgender people, 4% unknown gender). Of the 4282 clients reporting results (94% of those who received a kit), 6% screened positive, among whom 72% (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 184) completed confirmatory testing. Themes from 41 client interviews included satisfaction about the convenience and privacy of services and the discreet nature of kit delivery. Respondents were drawn to the convenience of HIVST and appreciated gaining courage and comfort throughout the process from virtual counsellor support. For respondents who screened positive, challenges to care linkage included fearing judgemental questions from public providers and wanting more time before starting treatment. Clients shared concerns about kit accuracy and suggested that instructional materials be provided with more diverse language options.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>Web\u2010based HIVST services with tailored support appeared to facilitate HIV service access and engagement of harder\u2010to\u2010reach populations across India. Assistance from a community\u2010oriented counsellor proved important to overcome literacy barriers and mistrust\u00a0 in order to support the HIVST process and service linkage. Learnings can inform global efforts to improve the critical step of diagnosis in achieving epidemic control for HIV and other infectious diseases.\u00a0<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/jia2.26302","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,11]],"date-time":"2024-06-11T19:18:03Z","timestamp":1718133483000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["HIV self\u2010testing in India: implementation and qualitative evaluation of a web\u2010based programme with virtual counsellor support"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9563-0918","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rose Pollard","family":"Kaptchuk","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of International Health The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jalpa","family":"Thakker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jade","family":"Bell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Saya","family":"Okram","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education Chennai India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Usha","family":"Gopinath","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education Chennai India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shruti H.","family":"Mehta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ajay Kumar","family":"Reddy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Talia A.","family":"Loeb","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Visvanathan","family":"Arumugam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education Chennai India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Samit","family":"Tandon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Blue Lotus Advisory New Delhi India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7498-3896","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mugundu Ramien","family":"Parthasarathy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Subash Chandra","family":"Ghosh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education Chennai India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aditya","family":"Singh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Deepika Srivastava","family":"Joshi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"United States Agency for International Development Washington DC USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sukhvinder","family":"Kaur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"United States Agency for International Development Washington DC USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sunil Suhas","family":"Solomon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1157-2931","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Allison M.","family":"McFall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_11_2_1","unstructured":"Understanding Fast Track: Accelerating Action to End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030. 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