Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35797099›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2022

Pilot Implementation of a User-Driven, Web-Based Application Designed to Improve Sexual Health Knowledge and Communication Among Young Zambians: Mixed Methods Study.

Anjali Sharma, Chanda Mwamba, Mwila Ng'andu, Vikwato Kamanga, Mayamiko Zoonadi Mendamenda, Yael Azgad, Zainab Jabbie, Jenala Chipungu, Jake M Pry

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. User Input in the Development of Digital Sexual Health Tools: A Scoping Review and Guidance for Tool Developers.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Anjali SharmaCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID 0000-0002-8189-0732
Chanda MwambaCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID 0000-0002-7626-6273
Mwila Ng'anduCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID 0000-0002-7726-9193
Vikwato KamangaCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID 0000-0002-4280-9436
Mayamiko Zoonadi MendamendaCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID 0000-0001-7188-4729
Yael AzgadAvert, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-6655-5952
Zainab JabbieCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID 0000-0002-7437-3323
Jenala ChipunguCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID 0000-0002-3152-2771
Jake M PryCentre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID 0000-0001-6312-4420

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDigital health interventions show promise in improving the uptake of HIV services among adolescents and young people aged 15 to 24 years in sub-Saharan Africa.

objectiveThis study aimed to pilot-test a theory-based, empirically grounded web-based application designed to increase condom-related knowledge, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) communication, and healthier choices among young Zambians.

methodsWe conducted a pre-post quasi-experimental evaluation of the user-driven Be in the Know Zambia (BITKZ) web application using web-based surveys and in-depth interviews (IDIs) on the phone. We enrolled participants using social media advertisements. Our final analysis set comprised 46.04% (749/1627) of participants in the intervention group (which received the BITKZ link) and 53.96% (878/1627) of participants in the comparison group (no intervention). We collected survey data at study enrollment (baseline) and 5 weeks after the first enrollment in each group. Approximately 85% (637/749) of BITKZ users completed a user survey, of whom 9.3% (59/637) participated in IDIs. We calculated the time interfacing with BITKZ using the application log files. We conducted descriptive analyses to describe baseline characteristics and the user experience. At the endline, we assessed association using a t test and adjusted logistic regression for binary outcomes and ordinal regression for ordered outcomes, conditioning on age, sex, marital status, and employment status. We used adjusted average treatment effects (aATE) to assess the effects of BITKZ intervention. We conducted rapid matrix analyses of IDI transcripts in Microsoft Excel, sorting the data by theme, gender, and experience rating.

resultsUsers rated BITKZ highly (excellent: 352/609, 57.8%; good: 218/609, 35.8%). At the endline, the intervention group had a higher level of knowledge related to condoms (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.35, 95% CI 1.06-1.69) and on wearing condoms correctly (aOR: 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.49). Those who had full-time employment had increased odds of knowing how to wear condoms correctly (aOR: 1.67, 95% CI 1.06-2.63) compared with those who reported being unemployed, as did men when compared with women (aOR: 1.92, 95% CI 1.59-2.31). Those in the intervention group were more likely to score higher for intention to test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs; aATE 0.21; P=.01) and HIV (aATE 0.32; P=.05), as well as for resisting peer pressure (aATE 2.64; P=.02). IDIs corroborated increased knowledge on correct condom use among men and female condoms among women, awareness of STIs and testing, and resistance to peer pressure. Interviewees provided examples of more open SRH communication with partners and peers and of considering, adopting, and influencing others to adopt healthier behaviors.

conclusionsDespite the high baseline awareness of SRH among Zambian adolescents and young people with internet access, BITKZ provided modest gains in condom-related knowledge, resistance to peer pressure, and intention to test for STIs and HIV.

Indexed as

CommunicationHealth EducationHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeInternetInternet-Based InterventionSexual HealthAdolescentCondomsFemaleHealth BehaviorHIV InfectionsHumansMaleOdds RatioPeer InfluencePilot Projectsadolescentdigital health interventionmobile phonepilot studyquasi-experimentsexual and reproductive healthsub-Saharan Africaweb applicationyoung peopleZambia

Identifiers

PMID35797099
PMCPMC9305403

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.