Marks, Michael, Esau, Tommy, Asugeni, Rowena, Harrington, Relmah, Diau, Jason, Toloka, Hilary, Asugeni, James, Ansbro, Eimhin, Solomon, Anthony W., MacLaren, David, Redman-MacLaren, Michelle, and Mabey, David C.W. (2018) Point-of-care tests for syphilis and yaws in a low-income setting: a qualitative study of healthcare worker and patient experiences. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12 (4). e0006360.

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Abstract

The human treponematoses comprise venereal syphilis and the three non-venereal or endemic treponematoses yaws, bejel, and pinta. Serological assays remain the most common diagnostic method for all treponemal infections.

Point-of-care tests (POCTs) for syphilis and yaws allow testing without further development of infrastructure in populations where routine laboratory facilities are not available. Alongside the test’s performance characteristics assessed through diagnostic evaluation, it is important to consider broader issues when rolling out a POCT. Experience with malaria POCT roll-out in sub-Saharan Africa has demonstrated that both healthcare worker and patient beliefs may play a major role in shaping the real-world use of POCTs. We conducted a qualitative study evaluating healthcare worker and patient perceptions of using a syphilis/yaws POCT in clinics in the East Malaita region of Malaita province in the Solomon Islands. Prior to the study serology was only routinely available at the local district hospital.

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