# Community perception of the usefulness and ease of COVID-19 self-test in two areas in Paraguay

## TL;DR

This study explores how people in two rural Paraguayan areas perceive and use self-administered COVID-19 tests, finding high comprehension and interest.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into community feasibility and acceptance of self-testing in rural areas during pandemics.

## Key findings

- 99% of participants demonstrated comprehension of self-test procedures.
- Participants expressed interest in using self-tests at home.
- Self-tests could help health systems prioritize severe cases in both urban and rural areas.

## Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic posed challenges for health systems in rapidly diagnosing diseases.

Community workshops and a self-administered questionnaire were implemented to determine the feasibility of self-testing for future epidemics and gain an understanding of community interest and the capacity to implement self-tests in two rural areas in Paraguay.

Comprehension of the self-test procedures and their application was demonstrated by 99% of the participants. The participants expressed interest in accessing these tests at home.

Self-tests could be a valuable tool in urban and rural communities that enable health systems to focus on severe cases.