HIV Index Case Testing (ICT) is a critical strategy for identifying individuals living with HIV, offering testing to their contacts, and linking all who test positive to care. Yet, expanding ICT through traditional centralized training models poses logistical and financial challenges鈥攅specially in low-resource settings. A new formative qualitative study led by CFAR Social, Behavioral, and Implementation Sciences Core Co-Director Vivian Go, PhD and CFAR member Sarah E. Rutstein, MD, PhD, offers a promising alternative: a decentralized blended learning approach. By combining in-person sessions with self-paced digital content, this method could support more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective training for healthcare workers (HCWs).听
The research team conducted 26 in-depth interviews with HCWs from 14 health facilities in Machinga and Balaka districts, Malawi, between November and December 2021. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a framework for analysis, the study explored HCWs鈥� perceptions of the approach. Findings point to strong potential acceptability, with participants citing the ease of use, practical benefits, and time efficiency of the blended model. At the same time, challenges such as limited digital infrastructure and connectivity were highlighted as key barriers to address.听
This work underscores the importance of adaptive, context-specific training models as HIV programs evolve鈥攁nd reinforces the need to invest in digital capacity building alongside service delivery improvements. To read the full article, click .听听