Factors discouraging HIV testing.
<div><p>Background</p><p>Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, young people are disproportionately affected but underrepresented in HIV testing statistics.</p><p>Objective</p><p>To...
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2025
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| _version_ | 1849927628097585152 |
|---|---|
| author | Frederick Nchang Cho (14485735) |
| author2 | Marie Clarie Fien Ndim (22683464) Diane Zinkeng Tongwa (22683467) Christabel Afor Tatah (22683470) Franklin Ngwesse Ngome (22683473) Eugine Mbuh Nyanjoh (22683476) Andrew N Tassang (22683479) |
| author2_role | author author author author author author |
| author_facet | Frederick Nchang Cho (14485735) Marie Clarie Fien Ndim (22683464) Diane Zinkeng Tongwa (22683467) Christabel Afor Tatah (22683470) Franklin Ngwesse Ngome (22683473) Eugine Mbuh Nyanjoh (22683476) Andrew N Tassang (22683479) |
| author_role | author |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv | Frederick Nchang Cho (14485735) Marie Clarie Fien Ndim (22683464) Diane Zinkeng Tongwa (22683467) Christabel Afor Tatah (22683470) Franklin Ngwesse Ngome (22683473) Eugine Mbuh Nyanjoh (22683476) Andrew N Tassang (22683479) |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv | 2025-11-25T18:30:12Z |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv | 10.1371/journal.pone.0337099.g002 |
| dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv | https://figshare.com/articles/figure/Factors_discouraging_HIV_testing_/30713987 |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv | Cancer Science Policy Infectious Diseases sectional qualitative study reflect diverse educational raised confidentiality concerns prioritise mobile clinics clarke &# 8217 testing process may high testing uptake participants supported school female participants feared sectional qualitative community kumba ii municipality centred community testing hiv testing services centred services testing procedures testing included inform community young people xlink "> unprotected sex strengthening education sexual transmission saharan africa purposively sampled peer outreach occupational backgrounds key motivators hiv transmission friendly environments disproportionately affected discourage help behaviours related aged 18 52 females 23 males 0 %), |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv | Factors discouraging HIV testing. |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv | Image Figure info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion image |
| description | <div><p>Background</p><p>Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, young people are disproportionately affected but underrepresented in HIV testing statistics.</p><p>Objective</p><p>To explore knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to HIV testing among youth in Kumba, Cameroon, and to identify barriers to inform community-based interventions.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted using nine focus group discussions (FGDs) with 75 youth (52 females and 23 males) aged 18 - 35 years across four quarters in the Kumba II municipality. Participants were purposively sampled to reflect diverse educational and occupational backgrounds. Data were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s framework with NVivo Version 14.</p><p>Results</p><p>Participants demonstrated high awareness of HIV testing services (90.7%) and transmission via sexual contact (96.0%), though knowledge gaps remained regarding non-sexual transmission and testing procedures. While 93.3% had previously undergone HIV testing, 57.3% reported stigma and 46.7% raised confidentiality concerns as ongoing barriers. Female participants feared being labelled as promiscuous, while males cited social norms that discourage help-seeking. Most participants supported school-based or youth-centred community testing, emphasising the need for privacy and youth-friendly environments. Key motivators for testing included the desire to know one’s status (82.7%), symptom appearance (28.0%), and unprotected sex (17.3%).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Despite strong awareness and high testing uptake, stigma and confidentiality concerns persist among youth in Kumba. To enhance HIV testing rates, community-based strategies should prioritise mobile clinics, peer outreach, and confidential youth-centred services. Strengthening education about HIV transmission and demystifying the testing process may further reduce barriers.</p></div> |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| id | Manara_5ec76c6e694b07d6e5d52bc1d953c68c |
| identifier_str_mv | 10.1371/journal.pone.0337099.g002 |
| network_acronym_str | Manara |
| network_name_str | ManaraRepo |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:figshare.com:article/30713987 |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| repository.mail.fl_str_mv | |
| repository.name.fl_str_mv | |
| repository_id_str | |
| rights_invalid_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 |
| spelling | Factors discouraging HIV testing.Frederick Nchang Cho (14485735)Marie Clarie Fien Ndim (22683464)Diane Zinkeng Tongwa (22683467)Christabel Afor Tatah (22683470)Franklin Ngwesse Ngome (22683473)Eugine Mbuh Nyanjoh (22683476)Andrew N Tassang (22683479)CancerScience PolicyInfectious Diseasessectional qualitative studyreflect diverse educationalraised confidentiality concernsprioritise mobile clinicsclarke &# 8217testing process mayhigh testing uptakeparticipants supported schoolfemale participants fearedsectional qualitative communitykumba ii municipalitycentred community testinghiv testing servicescentred servicestesting procedurestesting includedinform communityyoung peoplexlink ">unprotected sexstrengthening educationsexual transmissionsaharan africapurposively sampledpeer outreachoccupational backgroundskey motivatorshiv transmissionfriendly environmentsdisproportionately affecteddiscourage helpbehaviours relatedaged 1852 females23 males0 %),<div><p>Background</p><p>Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, young people are disproportionately affected but underrepresented in HIV testing statistics.</p><p>Objective</p><p>To explore knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to HIV testing among youth in Kumba, Cameroon, and to identify barriers to inform community-based interventions.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted using nine focus group discussions (FGDs) with 75 youth (52 females and 23 males) aged 18 - 35 years across four quarters in the Kumba II municipality. Participants were purposively sampled to reflect diverse educational and occupational backgrounds. Data were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s framework with NVivo Version 14.</p><p>Results</p><p>Participants demonstrated high awareness of HIV testing services (90.7%) and transmission via sexual contact (96.0%), though knowledge gaps remained regarding non-sexual transmission and testing procedures. While 93.3% had previously undergone HIV testing, 57.3% reported stigma and 46.7% raised confidentiality concerns as ongoing barriers. Female participants feared being labelled as promiscuous, while males cited social norms that discourage help-seeking. Most participants supported school-based or youth-centred community testing, emphasising the need for privacy and youth-friendly environments. Key motivators for testing included the desire to know one’s status (82.7%), symptom appearance (28.0%), and unprotected sex (17.3%).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Despite strong awareness and high testing uptake, stigma and confidentiality concerns persist among youth in Kumba. To enhance HIV testing rates, community-based strategies should prioritise mobile clinics, peer outreach, and confidential youth-centred services. Strengthening education about HIV transmission and demystifying the testing process may further reduce barriers.</p></div>2025-11-25T18:30:12ZImageFigureinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionimage10.1371/journal.pone.0337099.g002https://figshare.com/articles/figure/Factors_discouraging_HIV_testing_/30713987CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/307139872025-11-25T18:30:12Z |
| spellingShingle | Factors discouraging HIV testing. Frederick Nchang Cho (14485735) Cancer Science Policy Infectious Diseases sectional qualitative study reflect diverse educational raised confidentiality concerns prioritise mobile clinics clarke &# 8217 testing process may high testing uptake participants supported school female participants feared sectional qualitative community kumba ii municipality centred community testing hiv testing services centred services testing procedures testing included inform community young people xlink "> unprotected sex strengthening education sexual transmission saharan africa purposively sampled peer outreach occupational backgrounds key motivators hiv transmission friendly environments disproportionately affected discourage help behaviours related aged 18 52 females 23 males 0 %), |
| status_str | publishedVersion |
| title | Factors discouraging HIV testing. |
| title_full | Factors discouraging HIV testing. |
| title_fullStr | Factors discouraging HIV testing. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors discouraging HIV testing. |
| title_short | Factors discouraging HIV testing. |
| title_sort | Factors discouraging HIV testing. |
| topic | Cancer Science Policy Infectious Diseases sectional qualitative study reflect diverse educational raised confidentiality concerns prioritise mobile clinics clarke &# 8217 testing process may high testing uptake participants supported school female participants feared sectional qualitative community kumba ii municipality centred community testing hiv testing services centred services testing procedures testing included inform community young people xlink "> unprotected sex strengthening education sexual transmission saharan africa purposively sampled peer outreach occupational backgrounds key motivators hiv transmission friendly environments disproportionately affected discourage help behaviours related aged 18 52 females 23 males 0 %), |