Facilitators and barriers to using iris scanning for identification of mobile populations at high risk of HIV in fishing communities of Lake Victoria in East Africa.

The growing concern over participant identification in research, spurred on by flaws in conventional methods like name/date of birth-based identity cards, hospital cards and names, has led to adverse consequences, such as drug misadministration, co-enrolment and missed appointment visits. This study examines the facilitators and barriers associated with implementing biometric iris scanning for participant identification among mobile women and men working in the fishing communities of Lake Victoria. We aim to address challenges in participant identification and contribute to improved research practices. Twenty-four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted between 2021 and 2022 across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, involving participants aged 18 years and above. The study specifically targeted members of mobile fishing communities residing along the shores of Lake Victoria. The participating research organizations, all partners of the Lake Victoria Consortium for Health Research (LVCHR), operated at the four sites: Masaka and Entebbe in Uganda and Mwanza in Tanzania and Kisumu in Kenya. Each site covering two fishing communities. Participants had an experiential session with the iris camera/scanner, voluntarily undergoing the scanning process before participating in a subsequent FGD. Data collected from the FGDs were transcribed, coded, and subjected to inductive thematic analysis to identify themes directly emerging from the participants narratives. This methodology was employed to gain insights into the participants perceptions and experiences of the implementation of iris scanning technology in these communities. Overall, there was a broad acceptance of the biometric iris scanning technology, attributable to the comprehensive sensitization efforts among those who participated in the research, effective communication, and the provision of clear information regarding the intentions behind its introduction. However, because the participants had never been exposed to this technology before, various misconceptions, expectations, fears and concerns regarding privacy and safety emerged. These could potentially act as barriers to its adoption in the wider community looking beyond research participants. There is need to provide comprehensive sensitization and health education through communication channels tailored to the needs of specific communities, while engaging them is key in guiding sensitization procedures and improving acceptability. These approaches will help increase acceptability and reduce hesitancy and fears associated with the use of new technologies, such as the iris scanner.