{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nHIV self-testing (HIVST) can improve access to HIV testing among adolescents and young adults (AYAs); however, gaps remain in post-test linkage to care. This study examined post-HIVST outcomes and factors associated with reported linkage to HIV care among AYAs in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.Methods\n\nA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 170 AYAs aged 15-24 years who had used HIVST within the preceding five months. Socio-demographic characteristics, HIVST results, post-test care-seeking, and linkage to HIV care were assessed. Bivariate analyses and Firth penalized logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with reported linkage to HIV care among participants reporting a positive HIVST result.Results\n\nOf 156 participants who disclosed their HIVST result, 67 (42.9%) reported a positive result. Among these, 29 (43.3%) sought confirmatory testing, 38 (56.7%) sought care within 1-4 weeks, and 53 (79.1%) reported linkage to HIV care. More than half (55.2%) reported that counselling was not offered, and 59.7% perceived linkage-to-care services as not easily accessible. In multivariable analysis, female participants had higher odds of reporting linkage to HIV care than male participants (AOR = 5.54, 95% CI: 1.49-20.67, p = 0.011).Conclusions\n\nAmong AYAs with previous HIVST use, important gaps were observed in confirmatory testing and timely care-seeking. Male AYAs may require targeted support to improve engagement with HIV care services.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha 5100, South Africa.",
    "WSU Society and Health Research Institute, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha 5100, South Africa."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zimkhitha Diniso",
      "orcid": "0009-0004-7508-6520"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Guillermo Alfredo Pulido Estrada",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6485-2059"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Sibusiso Cyprian Nomatshila"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Kululwa Ndayi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Monwabisi Faleni"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ahm1pc6mmhkbm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/epidemiologia7050138",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13703051",
  "id": "ahm1pc6mmhkbm",
  "issns": [
    "2673-3986"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930326",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2725|HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220868833",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13703051?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13703051",
  "pmid": "42930326",
  "published": "2026-10-07",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ahm1pc6mmhkbm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42930326",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930326"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2725|HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Linkage to HIV Care Among Adolescents and Young Adults Reporting a Positive HIV Self-Test in OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.",
  "title_text": "Linkage to HIV Care Among Adolescents and Young Adults Reporting a Positive HIV Self-Test in OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ahm1pc6mmhkbm",
  "venue": "Epidemiologia (Basel, Switzerland)",
  "versions": []
}