Level of knowledge and intention to use oral fluid HIV self-testing and associated factors among Ethiopian health care workers in southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization has recommended a new method for HIV self-testing (HIVST) using oral fluid, intending to increase HIV testing rates, and linking individuals to medical care. Healthcare workers are chief health advocates in the community who need adequate knowledge and intention to use the newly recommended HIVST approach. However, studies on awareness and the intention to use oral fluid for HIV self-testing among Ethiopian healthcare workers are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess healthcare workers' knowledge of and intentions to use oral fluid for HIV self-testing in Hadiya Zone public hospitals in southern Ethiopia in 2022. METHODS: We conducted a facility-based cross-sectional study among a sample of 352 healthcare workers from 1 to 30 June 2022. The data were entered into Epidata version 4.2 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. We used a logistic regression model with a 95% confidence interval for the interpretation of adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with P < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the total participants, 40.3% had good knowledge, and 63.1% intended to use oral fluid (HIVST). Approximately 92% of healthcare workers had not received training, and 48.3% had heard about HIVST. Only 12.3% knew about the availability of the kit in hospitals, and 19.9% had ever used HIVST. Being male (AOR = 2.28; 95% CI 1.33-3.95), receiving support for the implementation of HIVST (AOR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.21-3.56), hearing about HIVST (AOR = 5.05; 95% CI 2.89-8.81), having prior experience using HIVST (AOR = 2.94; 95% CI 1.71-5.05), having a spouse or partner (AOR = 2.78; 95% CI 1.14-6.82), and having multiple sexual partners (AOR = 2.76; 95% CI 1.13-6.78) were associated with good knowledge of oral HIVST. Being aged 25-29 years (AOR = 2.54; 95% CI 1.18, 5.41), perceiving the high cost of the HIVST kit (AOR = 0.37; 95% CI 0.16-0.84), and having poor knowledge (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI 1.13-3.23) were significantly associated with the intention to use the oral fluid for HIVST. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for technical updating training for healthcare workers to increase their knowledge of and intention to use oral fluid for HIVST. Promoting oral fluid HIVST through targeted education, supporting initiatives, and addressing cost concerns related to the testing kit may increase the uptake of oral fluid HIVST among healthcare workers.

Cervical cancer screening utilization and associated factors among female health workers in public health facilities of Hossana town, southern Ethiopia: A mixed method approach.

BACKGROUNDS: Worldwide, a substantial proportion of women have low cervical cancer screening services utilization. There is a paucity of evidence in utilization of cervical cancer screening services among female health workers and inconsistent findings in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the utilization of cervical cancer screening services and associated factors among female health workers in public health facilities of Hossana town, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study design complemented with the qualitative inquiry was conducted among randomly selected 241 study participants in Hossana town from June 1 to July 1, 2021. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association between dependent and independent variables with the assumption of a variable with a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim then translated to English and analyzed using open code version 4.03. RESULTS: Out of the total study participants, 19.6% was screened for cervical cancer. Having a diploma level of education (AOR = 0.48;95%CI:0.24,0.98), having three or more children (AOR = 3.65;95%CI:1.44,9.21), having multiple sexual partners(AOR = 3.89;95%CI: 1.38,11.01), and knowledge of cervical cancer screening (AOR = 2.66;95% CI:1.19,5.95) were statistically significantly associated with cervical cancer screening utilization. In-depth interviews suggested additional barriers for low screening utilization including lack of health educational materials, limitation of service to a specific area, service interruption, provider incompetency, and miss-trust and lack of attention by a trained provider. CONCLUSION: Utilization of cervical cancer screening service among female health workers is low. Having a diploma level of education, having three or more children, a history of multiple sexual partners, and knowledge about cervical cancer were predictors of cervical cancer screening utilization. Contextualized health talks and promotion through training with a special focus on low level of knowledge, had lower educational level, and the availability of cervical cancer screening services are critical.