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Perceptions of COVID-19 self-testing and recommendations for implementation and scale-up among Black/African Americans: implications for the COVID-19 STEP project.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nwaozuru, U; Obiezu-Umeh, C; Diallo, H; Graham, D; Whembolua, G-L; Bourgeau, MJ; Ritchwood, TD; Nelson, LE; Shato, T; Mathews, A; Moise, R ...
Published in: BMC public health
June 2022

COVID-19 self-testing (ST) is an innovative strategy with the potential to increase the access and uptake of testing and ultimately to limit the spread of the virus. To maximize the uptake and reach of this promising strategy and inform intervention development and scale up, research is needed to understand the acceptability of and willingness to use this tool. This is vital to ensure that Black/African Americans are reached by the Biden-Harris Administration's free national COVID-19 ST program. This study aimed to explore the acceptability and recommendations to promote and scale-up the uptake of COVID-19 ST among Black/African Americans.We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study using a semi-structured questionnaire to assess barriers and facilitators to the uptake of COVID-19 ST among a convenience sample of 28 self-identified Black/African Americans from schools, community centers, and faith-based institutions in Ohio and Maryland. Inductive content analysis was conducted to identify categories and subcategories related to acceptability and recommendations for implementing and scaling up COVID-19 ST in communities.Participants perceived COVID-19 self-testing as an acceptable tool that is beneficial to prevent transmission and address some of the barriers associated with health facility testing, such as transportation cost and human contact at the health facility. However, concerns were raised regarding the accurate use of the kits and costs. Recommendations for implementing and scaling up COVID-19 ST included engagement of community stakeholders to disseminate information about COVID-19 self-testing and creating culturally appropriate education tools to promote knowledge of and clear instructions about how to properly use COVID-19 ST kits. Based on these recommendations, the COVID-19 STEP (Self-Testing Education and Promotion) Project is being developed and will involve engaging community partners such as barbers, church leaders, and other community-based organizations to increase the uptake and use of free COVID-19 ST kits among Black/African Americans.Findings showed that most participants considered COVID-19 ST valuable for encouraging COVID-19 testing. However, cost and accuracy concerns may pose barriers. Future work should consider implementing interventions that leverage the benefits of COVID-19 ST and further assess the extent to which these identified facilitators and barriers may influence COVID-19 ST uptake.

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Published In

BMC public health

DOI

EISSN

1471-2458

ISSN

1471-2458

Publication Date

June 2022

Volume

22

Issue

1

Start / End Page

1220

Related Subject Headings

  • Self-Testing
  • Public Health
  • Humans
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • COVID-19
  • Black or African American
  • 4206 Public health
  • 4203 Health services and systems
  • 4202 Epidemiology
 

Citation

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Nwaozuru, U., Obiezu-Umeh, C., Diallo, H., Graham, D., Whembolua, G.-L., Bourgeau, M. J., … Conserve, D. F. (2022). Perceptions of COVID-19 self-testing and recommendations for implementation and scale-up among Black/African Americans: implications for the COVID-19 STEP project. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1220. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13619-6
Nwaozuru, Ucheoma, Chisom Obiezu-Umeh, Hassim Diallo, Danielle Graham, Guy-Lucien Whembolua, Marie Janeeca Bourgeau, Tiarney D. Ritchwood, et al. “Perceptions of COVID-19 self-testing and recommendations for implementation and scale-up among Black/African Americans: implications for the COVID-19 STEP project.BMC Public Health 22, no. 1 (June 2022): 1220. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13619-6.
Nwaozuru U, Obiezu-Umeh C, Diallo H, Graham D, Whembolua G-L, Bourgeau MJ, et al. Perceptions of COVID-19 self-testing and recommendations for implementation and scale-up among Black/African Americans: implications for the COVID-19 STEP project. BMC public health. 2022 Jun;22(1):1220.
Nwaozuru, Ucheoma, et al. “Perceptions of COVID-19 self-testing and recommendations for implementation and scale-up among Black/African Americans: implications for the COVID-19 STEP project.BMC Public Health, vol. 22, no. 1, June 2022, p. 1220. Epmc, doi:10.1186/s12889-022-13619-6.
Nwaozuru U, Obiezu-Umeh C, Diallo H, Graham D, Whembolua G-L, Bourgeau MJ, Ritchwood TD, Nelson LE, Shato T, Mathews A, Moise R, Ward MC, Raude J, Ahonkhai AA, Young DJ, Conserve DF. Perceptions of COVID-19 self-testing and recommendations for implementation and scale-up among Black/African Americans: implications for the COVID-19 STEP project. BMC public health. 2022 Jun;22(1):1220.
Journal cover image

Published In

BMC public health

DOI

EISSN

1471-2458

ISSN

1471-2458

Publication Date

June 2022

Volume

22

Issue

1

Start / End Page

1220

Related Subject Headings

  • Self-Testing
  • Public Health
  • Humans
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • COVID-19
  • Black or African American
  • 4206 Public health
  • 4203 Health services and systems
  • 4202 Epidemiology