ArticlemHealth2021
A mixed-methods study to explore opportunities and challenges with using a mHealth approach to engage men who have sex with men in HIV prevention, treatment and care in Lomé, Togo.
Article in mHealth, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Impact of Customized Short Message Service on High-Risk Behaviors Among MSM in China, a Randomized Controlled Trial Study.AIDS and behavior · 2023Trial
- Mobile Phone-Based Confidential Social Network Referrals for HIV Testing (CONSORT): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2024Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn Togo, men who have sex with men (MSM) experience disproportionately high rates of human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), with prevalence at 13% compared to the countrywide general HIV prevalence of 2.5%. Mobile phone adoption has grown rapidly in West Africa in recent years and mobile health (mHealth) provides an opportunity to engage high-risk populations in HIV prevention, treatment and care (PTC). This study focuses on the text messaging component of a mHealth program and resulting linkages to PTC in Lomé, Togo.
methodsWe used a mixed-methods approach to collect information directly from a purposive sample of MSM to estimate the potential impact of the mHealth intervention on specific outcomes. A structured survey captured 503 MSM experiences with program activities to increase access to PTC through short message system (SMS), including data on socio-demographics, HIV knowledge and testing history, program awareness, use of services and referrals, use of mHealth, and experiences with and preferences for receiving HIV SMS messages. Twelve in-depth interviews captured qualitative data on MSM experiences and opinions related to the mHealth intervention, as well as barriers and facilitators to linkages between mHealth and clinic services.
resultsPredicted probabilities of MSM being reached by the program and linked to PTC is higher for those exposed to the program and significantly different (P<0.001). The probability of being linked to HIV prevention emerges as the highest among MSM exposed to SMS messages with 92% probability. MSM exposed to SMS had a 63% probability to be linked to treatment compared to only 40% among those not exposed to SMS. Program barriers and facilitators were identified through the thematic analysis of the qualitative data. Several facilitators to PTC were reported including: increased knowledge and awareness; convenient location of HIV testing coupled with distribution of products; ensuring individual confidentiality; and perceived care of providers. The main barriers to the program were lack of program awareness, program functionality and affordability for referral services, and peer educator training.
conclusionsThe probability of being reached, and adhering to PTC is significantly higher among MSM exposed to HIV related SMS messages; however, the usefulness of SMS in HIV programs targeting MSM needs to be better understood.
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