HIV Status Awareness and Perceptions of HIV Self-Testing among Rural Dwellers in Ibadan, Nigeria

Purpose: Awareness of HIV status remains a critical challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in rural settings where stigma, limited access to services, and sociocultural barriers restrict testing uptake. HIV self-testing (HIVST) has emerged as a strategy to enhance privacy, autonomy, and early diagnosis; however, community awareness and perceptions of this approach remain underexplored in rural Nigeria. This study assessed the level of HIV status awareness and perceptions of HIV self-testing among rural dwellers in Ibadan, Oyo State. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive quantitative design was employed. A total of 218 adult residents from two rural communities (Ajibode and Omi Adio) were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered, adapted questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics (Pie charts) were used to summarize findings, and inferential tests were conducted at a significance level of p < 0.05. Findings: Results showed that the majority of respondents were below 40 years (83.5%) and female (71.6%). More than half (58.3%) were unaware of their current HIV status, and 68.8% did not know where to obtain HIV self-testing kits. The overall mean awareness score was 0.73 ± 0.74, with 55.5% categorized as having low awareness. Despite this, perceptions of HIVST were largely favorable; 79.4% agreed that HIV self-testing is a good idea, 77.0% believed it ensures privacy, and 75.2% indicated willingness to seek care after a positive result. The mean perception score was 39.51 ± 6.41, with 53.6% demonstrating positive perceptions. Concerns were expressed regarding the absence of counseling, possible misinterpretation of results, and regulation of test kits. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: This study uniquely reveals that while rural Ibadan dwellers demonstrate low HIV status awareness, perceptions of self-testing are shaped by nuanced cultural beliefs and accessibility concerns. It advances theoretical understandings of health behaviour in rural contexts, informs policies advocating for culturally sensitive distribution models, and guides nurses in implementing community-based strategies to enhance self-testing uptake.