Mobile health applications for HIV prevention and care in Africa

Forrest, Jamie I; Wiens, Matthew O.; Kanters, Steve; Nsanzimana, Sabin; Lester, Richard; Mills, Edward J.

doi:10.1097/coh.0000000000000198

Cited by 54 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…However, the total fertility rate remains higher in Cameroon at a range of 5.1 to 6.9 children per woman in 2013 20 ; therefore, with sufficient and adequate knowledge, counseling, and low-cost techniques such as the integration of routine education, information, and communication in family planning services and HIV clinics or just messaging women with HIV by mobile phone (98% of participants were using a mobile phone at the time of survey) could improve reproductive health in discordant couples. Recent studies in Africa have shown that text messaging can increase medical care for PLHIV21, 44; as such, the use of text-message–delivered reminders could be an effective tool for educating women on healthy sexual practices and reproductive care. This would optimize the ability of infected women to decrease the risk of new infections.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Practices, Fertility Intentions, and Awareness to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Among Infected Pregnant Women at the Yaounde Central Hospital

et al. 2016

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IntroductionThe sexual and reproductive health of people living with HIV is fundamental for their well-being. Antiretroviral therapy and reproductive technologies have significantly improved quality of life of people living with HIV in developed countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, the epicenter of HIV, the sexual practices and fertility of women infected with HIV have been understudied.AimTo assess the sexual behavior, fertility intentions, and awareness of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in pregnant women with HIV-negative partners in Yaounde Central Hospital (Yaounde, Cameroon).MethodsA cross-sectional survey using a semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was conducted at the antenatal unit and HIV clinic in 2014.Main Outcome MeasuresNinety-four pregnant women infected with HIV provided consistent information on (i) sociodemographic characteristics, (ii) sexual and fertility patterns, (iii) awareness of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and (iv) their unmet needs.ResultsAlthough sexual desire had significantly changed since their HIV diagnosis, the women were highly sexually active. Approximately 19% of women had more than one sexual partner and 40% had regular unprotected sex during the 12-month period before the interviews (P < .0001). Twenty-nine percent of women preferred intermittent sexual intercourse and inconsistent condom use to delay pregnancy, but the abortion rate remained high. Age, marital status, and education affected women's awareness of mother-to-child transmission (P < .05); and no association existed between the number of living children and future pregnancies (rs = −0.217; P = .036).ConclusionHIV-infected women living with HIV-negative partners in Cameroon expressed high sexual and fertility intentions with several unmet needs, including safer sexual practices and conception. Incorporating and supporting safe sexual educational practices and conception services in maternal care can decrease risky sexual behavior and vertical transmission.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Practices, Fertility Intentions, and Awareness to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Among Infected Pregnant Women at the Yaounde Central Hospital

et al. 2016

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“…There have been several studies of health education, behavioural improvement and disease treatment among community residents, women and populations in low-income countries [25–29]. According to the information-motivation-behaviour skills (IMB) model, information can be translated into action that can motivate individuals and eventually influence their attitudes and behaviour [30, 31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using WeChat official accounts to improve malaria health literacy among Chinese expatriates in Niger: an intervention study

Han

Guo

et al. 2016

Malar J

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BackgroundMalaria is the main health risk for Chinese expatriates working in Niger. Health education is a recommended intervention for prevention of malaria among non-immune travellers and expatriate workers. It is urgent to develop an effective and feasible way for these populations to obtain information about the prevention and treatment of malaria.MethodsAn individually randomized, unblinded, controlled trial was used to evaluate the effectiveness of using WeChat official accounts for health education to improve malaria health literacy among Chinese expatriates in Niger. A total 1441 participants completed a baseline malaria health literacy questionnaire and were randomly assigned to an intervention or comparison group in a ratio of 1:1. From July to October 2014, 50 malaria prevention and treatment messages were sent to the intervention group; 50 health news messages were concurrently sent to the control group. Both groups completed the malaria health literacy questionnaire again 4 months after the start of the education intervention. A questionnaire addressing satisfaction with the health education programme was completed by the intervention group. Malaria morbidity data for 2013 and 2014 were also collected.ResultsAt baseline, participant health literacy rates were 58.29, 62, 54, and 34% for skills, knowledge, practice, and attitude, respectively. After the intervention, rates for all four aspects of malaria literacy were above 70%. There was greater change in knowledge, attitude, practice, skills, and overall health literacy among the intervention group compared with the controls, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01). This was especially true for acquisition of malaria-related knowledge, practice and attitude; comprehensive intervention practices; and, correct use of rapid diagnostic tests (p < 0.001). The reported malaria morbidity during the study period decreased from 23.72 to 15.40%. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the WeChat health education programme with over 80% stating that they would continue to follow the programme.ConclusionsThe present health education intervention, via a WeChat official account, for the prevention and treatment of malaria among non-immune travellers and expatriate workers proved to be an effective, sustainable, feasible, and well accepted strategy for improving malaria health literacy among Chinese expatriates in Niger.

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“…Telemedicine has been successfully deployed in dermatology (19–25), ophthalmology (26,27), HIV prevention and care (28), clinical psychology and psychiatry (29,30), neurosurgery (31), radiology (32–35), and non-commuicable diseases including hypertension (36–38). Overall, the most successful telemedicine endeavors in SSA have relied on international collaborative efforts between centers in Africa and counterparts in North America or Europe.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tele-neurology in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of the literature

Adamu

Awuah

Ovbiagele

2017

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

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Background The rapid advancement in telecommunications on the African continent has opened up avenues for improving medical care to underserved populations. Although the greatest burden of neurological disorders is borne by Low-and-Middle Income Countries (LMICs) including sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there is a profound paucity of neurologists to serve the population. Telemedicine presents a promising avenue for effective mobilization and utilization of the few neurologists in Africa. Objective To systematically review the published literature on the use of telemedicine for improved care and outcomes for patients with neurological disorders in SSA. Methods We searched PubMed and Cochrane library from January 1, 1980 to April 30, 2017 using the following keywords: “Telemedicine neurology Africa”, “Teleneurology Africa”, “Telestroke Africa”, “Telerehabilitation Africa”, “Telemedicine for epilepsy”, Telemedicine for Parkinson’s disease Africa”, “Telemedicine for dementia Africa”, “Telehealth neurology Africa”. Our inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials, or case series that reported the utilization of telemedicine for care/education of individuals with neurological disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa. Results This search yielded 6 abstracts. By consensus between two investigators, 1 publication met the criteria for inclusion and further review. The one study identified utilized telemedicine for the purpose of improving education/knowledge of 16 doctors and 17 allied health professionals in Parkinson’s disease (PD) in Cameroon. The study noted feasibility and satisfaction of participants with telemedicine as well as improved knowledge base of participants after the educational course but noted access to healthcare by patients did not change. No studies have evaluated the use of telemedicine for care of patients with neurological disorders. Conclusion The indication is that teleneurology may be feasible in SSA and studies are needed to assess feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, cost-effectiveness of this promising discipline of neurology in these resource-limited settings. We propose the setting up of trans-continental, inter-regional, intra-regional, and national networks of neurologists to utilize teleneurology platforms to improve the reach of neurology care in SSA.

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Mobile health applications for HIV prevention and care in Africa

Cited by 54 publications

References 27 publications

Sexual Practices, Fertility Intentions, and Awareness to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Among Infected Pregnant Women at the Yaounde Central Hospital

Sexual Practices, Fertility Intentions, and Awareness to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Among Infected Pregnant Women at the Yaounde Central Hospital

Using WeChat official accounts to improve malaria health literacy among Chinese expatriates in Niger: an intervention study

Tele-neurology in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of the literature

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