HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis self-testing among adolescents and young adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

作者：Ying Zhang, James Tapa, Cheryl Johnson, Tiffany R. Phillips, Christopher K. Fairley, Wole Ameyan, Maeve B. Mello, Eric P. F. Chow, Thato Chidarikire, Jason J. Ong · 发表于：Journal of Infection and Public Health · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102764 · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions、Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health、Reproductive tract infections research

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) make up a significant share of the world’s burden of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). Self-testing can increase testing coverage and strengthen the uptake of prevention and treatment services. We critically appraised the literature regarding HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis self-testing among AYA (age 10–24 years) and assessed its usability, feasibility, and acceptability. We conducted a systematic review, searching six databases between January 2010 and October 2023. We included all studies on HIV, hepatitis and syphilis self-testing in AYA. We used a random-effects meta-analysis to pool evidence across the three infections as evidence was deemed sufficiently similar. We summarised the uptake, proportion of first-time testers and linkage to care. Qualitative data were narratively synthesised. We identified 89 relevant studies. Most were conducted in Africa (57/89, 64 %) and lower-middle-income countries (34/89, 38 %). Our meta-analysis of 27 studies (n = 28,787 individuals) demonstrated that 79 % (95 % CI: 69–87 %, I 2 = 99 %) of AYA who were offered HIV or syphilis self-test completed the test. Five studies (n = 4117) demonstrated 62 % (95 % CI: 53–71 %, I 2 = 83 %) were first-time testers. No studies reported completion rates for hepatitis self-testing. In general, AYA were highly accepting of self-testing and found it easy to use. Self-testing is a safe, acceptable and effective way to increase access to HIV, hepatitis an...