Amsterdam 2015
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| Abstract #3449 - Late Breaker | ||||
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Session: 47.5: Late Breaker (Parallel) on Friday @ 09.00-10.30 in C001 Chaired by Ophelia Haanyama, Chen Zhang Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Janan Dietrich - Perinatal HIV Research Unit , South Africa |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: Adolescents have adopted the use of technology for communication and social interactions with peers and for entertainment. Internet and mobile phone based interventions have been shown to be feasible tools in HIV prevention, especially among at-risk populations in South Africa. HIV prevention efforts among young people can benefit from a low cost tool such as a mobile phone intervention. Given the potential opportunity for use and application of text-messaging and internet-based programs for HIV behaviour change in developing countries, more research is necessary. The present study aimed to explore the proposed features of a mHealth intervention to to reduce HIV risk among young people in Soweto, South Africa. | ||||
| Method / Issue: We conducted a qualitative study from April 2014 to May 2015. The study was conducted at the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU) based at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg. Study staff conducted 11 focus groups with heterosexual young people aged 14-25 years from Soweto, Johannesburg. Participants completed a brief self-report questionnaire that assessed demographics and mobile phone ownership. Questionnaire Data were entered in excel and exported to SPSS for analyses. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analyses to identify codes that addressed the proposed features of a mHealth intervention for HIV risk reduction. Specific emphasis was placed on HIV testing as a prevention strategy among HIV negative young people. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Of 81 participants, 56% were female and 76% owned mobile phones. Participants reported that most of their peers owned smart phones. Participants recommended the use of short, English messages to encourage HIV testing among young people. Participants recommended that the target age range for a mhealth intervention include young people 12-25 years. Social networking applications were preferred over text messaging phone interventions. An mHealth intervention should be responsive to real time interactions to allow participants to ask questions with immediate responses. Barriers to the access of a mHealth intervention included limited access to mobile phones and internet connectivity, theft of the phones, confidentialtiy with shared phone use, and using religious chain messages. | ||||
| Discussion: Young people are critical in developing interventions that will be used to adress HIV risk. Despite the barriers in accessing internet and data based tools, participants preferred social networking applications for HIV prevention interventions. Data from this study will be used to develop a commercial mHealth intervention that will be applicable to adolescents across South Africa. | ||||
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