ArticleJMIR formative research2023
An Unstructured Supplementary Service Data System to Verify HIV Self-Testing Among Nigerian Youths: Mixed Methods Analysis of Usability and Feasibility.
Article in JMIR formative research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evidence on Digital HIV Self-Testing From Accuracy to Impact: Updated Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Feasibility of a Mobile Application for Self and Assisted Reporting of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Self-Testing Results in Tanzania: A Pilot Study.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2025Article
- Article
- Tiny Guardian-Monitoring Antimicrobial Childhood Exposure in Low-Resource Settings.International journal of public health · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMobile health (mHealth) interventions among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are increasingly available in African low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). For example, the unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) could be used to verify HIV self-testing (HIVST) among AYAs with poor bandwidth.
objectiveThe aim of this study is to describe the creation of an USSD platform and determine its feasibility and usability to promote the verification of HIVST results among AYAs in Nigeria.
methodsWe developed and evaluated a USSD platform to verify HIVST results using a user-centered approach. The USSD platform guided AYAs in performing HIVST, interpreting the result, and providing linkage to care after the test. Following the usability assessment, the USSD platform was piloted. We used a mixed methods study to assess the platform's usability through a process of quantitative heuristic assessment, a qualitative think-aloud method, and an exit interview. Descriptive statistics of quantitative data and inductive thematic analysis of qualitative variables were organized.
resultsA total of 19 AYAs participated in the usability test, with a median age of 19 (IQR 16-23) years. There were 11 females, 8 males, and 0 nonbinary individuals. All individuals were out-of-school AYAs. Seven of the 10 Nielsen usability heuristics assessed yielded positive results. The participants found the USSD platform easy to use, preferred the simplicity of the system, felt no need for a major improvement in the design of the platform, and were happy the system provided linkage to care following the interpretation of the HIVST results. The pilot field test of the platform enrolled 164 out-of-school AYAs, mostly young girls and women (101, 61.6%). The mean age was 17.5 (SD 3.18) years, and 92.1% (151/164) of the participants reported that they were heterosexual, while 7.9% (13/164) reported that they were gay. All the participants in the pilot study were able to conduct HIVST, interpret their results, and use the linkage to care feature of the USSD platform without any challenge. A total of 7.9% (13/164) of the AYAs had positive HIV results (reactive to the OraQuick kit).
conclusionsThis study demonstrated the usability and feasibility of using a USSD system as an alternative to mobile phone apps to verify HIVST results among Nigerian youth without smartphone access. Therefore, the use of a USSD platform has implications for the verification of HIVST in areas with low internet bandwidth. Further pragmatic trials are needed to scale up this approach.
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Registered trials
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