An mHealth HIV prevention programme for youth: lessons learned from the iloveLife.mobi programme in South Africa

Visser, Maretha; Kotzé, Marinda; Rensburg, Madri Jansen van

doi:10.1080/09540121.2020.1742866

Cited by 24 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Less data exist regarding smartphone and social media access specifically among Kenyan youth under age 25 years. While few studies have used smartphonebased interventions to support the health of youth in SSA, there is growing interest in using this platform in this age group (8,(16)(17)(18)(19).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobile technology access and use among youth in Nairobi, Kenya: implications for mobile health intervention design

Kharono¹,

Kaggiah²,

Mugo³

et al. 2022

mHealth

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobile technology access and use among youth in Nairobi, Kenya: implications for mobile health intervention design

Kharono¹,

Kaggiah²,

Mugo³

et al. 2022

mHealth

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“…Indeed, mobile phone-based interventions can overcome barriers that people have to accessing critical social and psychosocial support [ 17 ]. Recent studies in sub-Saharan Africa have moved beyond the use of the mobile phone as an educative tool, and toward its potential as a device for behaviour change and psychosocial support for populations living with HIV [ 18 , 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insaka: mobile phone support groups for adolescent pregnant women living with HIV

Simpson

Kydd

Phiri

et al. 2021

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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Background Mobile phone-based interventions have been demonstrated in different settings to overcome barriers to accessing critical psychosocial support. In this study, we aimed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of a phone-based, peer-to-peer support group intervention for adolescent pregnant women aged 15–24 years living with HIV in Zambia. Methods Sixty-one consenting participants were recruited from Antenatal Clinics of two large urban communities in Lusaka. They were invited to participate in the mobile phone-based intervention that allowed them to anonymously communicate in a small group led by a facilitator for 4 months. A mixed methods approach was used to assess acceptability and feasibility, including a focus group discussion, pre- and post-intervention interview and analysis of the content of the text message data generated. Results Participants reported finding the platform “not hard to use” and enjoyed the anonymity of the groups. Seventy-one percent of participants (n = 43) participated in the groups, meaning they sent text messages to their groups. Approximately 12,000 text messages were sent by participants (an average of 169 messages/user and 6 mentors in 6 groups. Topics discussed were related to social support and relationships, stigma, HIV knowledge and medication adherence. Conclusion The study showed that the intervention was acceptable and feasible, and highlighted the potential of the model for overcoming existing barriers to provision of psychosocial support to this population.

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“…mHealth interventions have been shown to either engage adolescents in HIV prevention and care (19,32) or provide adolescent sexual education (20)(21)(22)(33)(34)(35), but usually not at the same time. HIV-focused mHealth interventions such as the ILoveLife website to prevent the spread of HIV in Uganda (17) and a text-based counseling intervention to increase ART adherence in APHIV in South Africa (32) showed success in improving knowledge and behavior change but were more didactic than interactive. Recent mHealth interventions for adolescent SRH education have included MyQuestion, which allowed young Nigerians to text anonymous SRH questions to trained counselors about menstruation, pregnancy, STIs, and relationships (20), and In This toGether, a daily text-message based program in Uganda, which provided informational support-but not peer or social support-about safe sex (35).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I am not shy anymore”: A Qualitative Study of the Impact of an Interactive mHealth Intervention on Sexual Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of South African Adolescents with Perinatal HIV

Bergam

Sibaya

Ndlela

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: South Africa has the highest burden of adolescents with perinatally-acquired HIV (APHIV) in the world. APHIV in South Africa have limited access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and services specific to their HIV status. When lacking comprehensive SRH education, APHIV are prone to sexual risk behaviors that can lead to unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV transmission. The use of mHealth interventions has been shown to deliver information, foster social support, and improve decision-making skills. In this study, we evaluate how an mHealth intervention influences sexual health knowledge and behaviors in APHIV. Methods: We purposively enrolled adolescents from the intervention arm of a randomized clinical trial assessing a multi-module, moderated WhatsApp-based intervention—Interactive Transition Support for Adolescents Living with HIV (InTSHA)—within a government supported clinic in KwaMashu, an urban township of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We conducted in-depth interviews based on World Health Organization guidelines for asking adolescents about SRH. We thematically analyzed data through an iterative, team-based coding approach combining deductive and inductive elements to contextualize SRH attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors before and after receiving the InTSHA intervention.Results: Of the 21 participants, 13 (61.9%) were female and the mean age was 16.6 years. Most participants reported first learning about SRH as young teenagers in school through non-targeted and negative ways, seeking clarification through peers and the internet rather than clinicians or caregivers. Participants reported that InTSHA provided a holistic and destigmatizing perspective on relationships, gender, and sexuality specific to growing up with HIV in South Africa. They praised the ability to give and receive information from peers in a moderated setting through the mHealth intervention, building their confidence, decision-making skills, and communication with partners and caregivers throughout their everyday lives. Despite reporting some technological challenges, adolescents agreed that InTSHA was convenient, confidential, and user-friendly.Conclusions: South African APHIV receive incomplete and conflicting sexual education from peers, caregivers, teachers, and technology that can be supplemented by mHealth curricula targeted for the unique needs of APHIV. Future, scaled-up mHealth interventions can destigmatize SRH by expanding access to sexual education and peer support, supplementing adolescents’ existing SRH education.

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An mHealth HIV prevention programme for youth: lessons learned from the iloveLife.mobi programme in South Africa

Cited by 24 publications

References 5 publications

Mobile technology access and use among youth in Nairobi, Kenya: implications for mobile health intervention design

Mobile technology access and use among youth in Nairobi, Kenya: implications for mobile health intervention design

Insaka: mobile phone support groups for adolescent pregnant women living with HIV

“I am not shy anymore”: A Qualitative Study of the Impact of an Interactive mHealth Intervention on Sexual Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of South African Adolescents with Perinatal HIV

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