dorah Nalukenge a research assistant with Makerere university school of public health worked in the field of HIV, prep, harm reduction. she has experience in data collection analysis and reporting. dorah is passionate about contributing to evidence-based intervention that improve health outcomes in vulnerable populations

Introduction:

Men who use oral substances and other illicit drugs (MWOSD) are disproportionately affected by HIV due to elevated risk behaviors. Community-led HIV self-testing (HIVST) has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance testing uptake among hard-to-reach populations. However, this approach is yet to be scaled up to reach more populations. We describe our HIV self-testing implementation experiences in two rural fishing communities in Uganda to inform future programming and scale-up.


Methods:
The project employed a community-based approach, engaging local leaders and health workers to facilitate awareness campaigns about the importance of HIV testing. Oral self-testing kits were distributed in safe spaces where men congregated, such as fishing docks and local bars. Training sessions were held to educate participants on how to use the kits effectively and interpret their results.
This mixed-methods study employed a community-based participatory research approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods.


Qualitative:

1. In-depth interviews (n=20)
2. Focus group discussions (n=4)

Results:
Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data, while thematic analysis was employed for qualitative data.

Key findings:

1. High HIVST uptake (85%)
2. Substantial testing yield (12% HIV-positive)
3. Effective linkage to care (90% within 2 weeks)
4. Peer leaders' social connections facilitated HIVST uptake

Conclusions:
This study demonstrates the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of community-led HIVST among MWOSD in Kampala, Uganda. The findings underscore the potential of peer-led HIVST distribution in increasing HIV testing uptake and linkage to care among hard-to-reach populations.