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. 2022 May;27(5):522-536.
doi: 10.1111/tmi.13748. Epub 2022 Apr 5.

Values and preferences of the general population in Indonesia in relation to rapid COVID-19 antigen self-tests: A cross-sectional survey

Caroline Thomas  1 , Sonjelle Shilton  2 , Catherine Thomas  1 , Deepshikha Batheja  3 , Srishti Goel  3 , Claudius Mone Iye  1 , Elena Ivanova  2 , Guillermo Z Martínez-Pérez  2
Affiliations

Values and preferences of the general population in Indonesia in relation to rapid COVID-19 antigen self-tests: A cross-sectional survey

Caroline Thomas et al. Trop Med Int Health. 2022 May.

Abstract

Objectives: Home diagnostics are essential to assist members of the general population become active agents of case detection. In Indonesia, a country with an over-burdened healthcare system, individuals could use rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests to self-detect COVID-19. To assess the general population's values and attitudes towards SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, a survey was conducted in mid-2021 in Jakarta and the provinces of Banten and North Sulawesi.

Methods: This was a quantitative survey that approached respondents in >600 randomly selected street-points in the three study geographies in July-August 2021. A 35-item questionnaire was used to collect data on key variables, such as likelihood to use a SARS-CoV-2 self-test, willingness to pay for a self-test device, and likely actions following a positive self-test result. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed.

Results: Of 630 respondents (318 were female), 15.53% knew about COVID-19 self-testing, while 62.70% agreed with the idea of people being able to self-test at home, unassisted, for COVID-19. If self-tests were available in Indonesia, >60% of respondents would use them if they felt it necessary and would undertake regular self-testing for example weekly if recommended. Upon receiving a positive self-test result, most respondents would communicate it (86.03%), request post-test counselling (80.79%), self-isolate (97.46%), and/or warn their close contacts (90.48%).

Conclusions: The use of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection tests for self-testing appears acceptable to a majority of the Indonesian public, to learn whether they have COVID-19. Self-testing should be prioritised to complement to an over-burdened healthcare system by helping the public, asymptomatic individuals included, become agents of change in epidemiological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in their communities.

Keywords: COVID-19; Indonesia; SARS-CoV-2 testing; home diagnostics; self-testing; survey.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
(a, b) Associations with likelihood to use self‐testing (Bivariate and Multivariate analyses)
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
(a, b) Associations with willingness to pay for a self‐test device (Bivariate and Multivariate analyses)
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
(a, b) Associations with actions upon self‐testing for SARS‐CoV‐2 (Bivariate and Multivariate analyses)
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