Rapid testing for sexually transmitted infections in primary care: a literature review: a literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/eb.v24i2.4056Keywords:
Primary Health Care; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Point-of-Care Testing; HIV; Syphilis.Abstract
Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are highly relevant to both individual and public health, including HIV, viral hepatitis, and syphilis. These infections can be identified through rapid testing offered in primary health care settings; however, this process presents several weaknesses, highlighting the importance of scientific discussion on the topic. Objective: This study aimed to identify the main themes related to rapid testing for STIs in primary health care based on global scientific publications. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using the SANRA (Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles) guidelines. The search terms included: "Doenças Sexualmente Transmissíveis," "Diagnóstico," and "Atenção Primária à Saúde" (DeCS); and "Sexually Transmitted Diseases," "Rapid Diagnostic Tests," and "Primary Health Care" (MeSH). The databases used were: Nursing Database, LILACS, MedLine/PubMed, and Scopus (Elsevier), with the search carried out in May 2024. Original, full-text articles addressing the topic and published between 2012 and 2024 were included. Results: Out of 112 publications identified, 20 were selected. The most frequent publication years were 2022, 2018, 2017, and 2012. MedLine/PubMed accounted for the highest number of identified (51) and selected (12) articles. Brazil was the setting for six studies, with research also represented in eight other countries. For analysis, data were organized in a table including year of publication, database, study location, main objective, and thematic category based on the study’s core focus. Four categories emerged: Health service analysis; User and professional perceptions; Challenges and strategies for service implementation. The most frequently used keyword across studies was “HIV.” Conclusion: The central themes in the global scientific literature focus on the perceptions of professionals and users, analysis of health services, work processes, and the effectiveness of joint actions, with an emphasis on HIV.
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