Nikolay Lunchenkov led the qualitative component of the study, conducting and supervising in-depth interviews with patients, providers, and public health stakeholders. These narratives reveal the everyday realities behind national testing guidelines: how trust, stigma, provider communication, and fragmented service structures influence whether a test is offered, accepted, or completed.

When viewed alongside the quantitative findings, the qualitative data help explain the gaps between policy and practice. The study highlights that testing uptake is shaped not only by system capacity, but also by the interpersonal moments that occur inside clinics. By combining methodological approaches, the paper offers a more realistic and actionable understanding of primary care–based testing in Kyrgyzstan and identifies clear opportunities to strengthen integrated services.

You can read the open access publication on the website of the publisher.