‘I think they might just go to the doctor’: qualitatively examining the (un)acceptability of newer HIV testing approaches among Vietnamese-born migrants in greater-Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Sarah J. Blondell
A E , Joseph Debattista B , Mark P. Griffin A C and Jo Durham A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A The University of Queensland, School of Public Health, Brisbane, Qld 4006 Australia.
B Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Qld 4029, Australia.
C Insight Research Services Associated, Brisbane, Qld 4109, Australia.
D Queensland University of Technology, School of Public Health and Social Work, Brisbane, Qld 4059, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: sarah.blondell@uqconnect.edu.au
Sexual Health 18(1) 50-57 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH20064
Submitted: 18 April 2020 Accepted: 7 July 2020 Published: 12 February 2021
Abstract
Background: In high-income countries (HICs), migrants often have higher rates of late diagnosis of HIV than the host population. Timely HIV testing has significant implications for HIV prevention and management. Newer HIV testing approaches, namely provider-initiated testing and counselling (PITC), HIV rapid testing (HIV RT) and HIV self-testing (HIV ST), aim to reach those populations most at risk and, particularly, those who have not previously tested for HIV. Methods: This study used semi-structured interviews to examine the (un)acceptability, barriers and facilitators to newer HIV testing approaches (i.e. PITC, HIV RT and HIV ST) among Vietnamese-born migrants (n = 10) in greater-Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Results: Vietnamese-born migrants had mixed perspectives on the (un)acceptability of newer HIV testing approaches. PITC was largely viewed by participants as a facilitator to HIV testing for Vietnamese-born migrants. Likewise, HIV RT (undertaken by a doctor in a medical setting, as opposed to a trained community member in a community setting) was generally considered to facilitate HIV testing. HIV ST was largely not considered acceptable to Vietnamese-born migrants and they would prefer to go to a doctor for HIV testing. Several factors were identified that either facilitate or act as barriers to newer HIV testing approaches, including privacy; cost of (accessing) HIV testing; comfort and convenience; healthcare provider relationship; risk perception; symptoms; and technical and emotional support. Conclusions: There is a need to understand migrants’ HIV testing preferences if poorer HIV-related outcomes are to be overcome. The findings from this study show a preference for doctor-centred HIV testing, due to enhanced privacy, accuracy and support.
Keywords: at-risk populations, Australia, HIV/AIDS, HIV prevention, HIV rapid testing, HIV self-testing, HIV testing preferences, migrant and mobile populations.
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