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Research Article: SARS-CoV-2 self-testing in Peru: a cross-sectional survey of values and attitudes of the general population

Date Published: 2023-07-05

Abstract:
Objectives To assess the values of and attitudes towards the use of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection tests for self-testing in a rural and an urban area in Peru. Design Cross-sectional, street-based population survey. Setting A series of over 400 randomly selected street points in Valle del Mantaro and in Lima. Participants 438 respondents (203 female) participated. They were all older than 17 years and provided informed consent for participation. Intervention All respondents answered on the spot, a 35-item questionnaire developed in KoboToolbox. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcomes of interest were: likelihood to use a SARS-CoV-2 self-test; willingness to pay for a SARS-CoV-2 self-test and likelihood to comply with recommended actions following a positive SARS-CoV-2 self-test result. Bivariate analyses and Poisson regression (PR) analyses were performed to identify significant associations between dependent variables and independent variables pertaining to respondents’ characteristics, risk perception and previous experiences with conventional COVID-19 testing. Results Of the 438 respondents, 51.49% had previous experience with conventional COVID-19 testing; 20.37% had COVID-19 disease; 86.96% accepted the idea of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing; and, 78.95% would be likely to use it if needed. Almost all (94.75%) would pay for a self-testing device (mean acceptable payment: US$10.4) if it was not provided free of charge by health authorities. Overall, 93.12%, 86.93% and 85.32% would self-isolate, report the results and warn their contacts, respectively. Being a female (adjusted PR 1.05, 95%?CI 1.00 to 1.09, p<0.018), having completed secondary education (adjusted PR 1.18, 95%?CI 1.02 to 1.37, p<0.024) and expressing likelihood to use self-testing (adjusted PR 1.08, 95%?CI 1.01 to 1.16, p<0.0.24) could be predictors of willingness to pay for a self-test. Conclusions Self-testing is perceived as an acceptable approach. Health authorities in Peru should facilitate access to this approach to complement healthcare facilities-led testing efforts for COVID-19. Future research is necessary to understand the impact of self-testing in case detection and pandemic control.

Introduction:
The first case of the COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed in Wuhan in December 2019. 1 The WHO declared the COVID-19 a pandemic just 5?days after the first case of COVID-19 in Peru was reported on 6 March 2020. 2 In November 2021, the highly contagious Omicron variant of concern appeared in South Africa. 3 The public health impact of the Omicron has been of such magnitude that, even in industrialised countries such as China, 4 the health authorities have not been able to keep up to pace with their…

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