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

ABSTRACT Objectives: Innovative 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 self-tests for SARS-CoV-2 to determine their COVID-19 status. To assess the acceptability of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing among the general population in Indonesia, a cross-sectional, population-based survey was conducted in mid-2021 in Jakarta and the provinces of Banten and North Sulawesi. Methods: This was a survey that approached respondents in >600 randomly selected street-points in the three study geographies. A 35-item questionnaire was used to collect data on key variables, such as willingness to use and to pay for a SARS-CoV-2 self-test and likely actions following a positive result. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed. Results: Of 630 respondents, (318 were female), 14% knew about COVID-19 self-testing, while 62.7% agreed with the concept 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 e.g., weekly if recommended. Upon receiving a positive self-test result, most respondents would communicate it (86.03%), request post-test counseling (80.79%), self-isolate (97.46%), and/or warn their close contacts (n=570, 90.48%). Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 self-testing would be acceptable to a majority of the Indonesian public, to learn whether they have COVID-19. Self-testing could contribute to an over-burdened healthcare system by helping COVID-19-infected people become agents of change in epidemiological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in their communities.