ReviewDiscover public health2026
Mobile health applications for enhancing mental health access and outcomes among adolescents and young people living with HIV: a systematic review.
Review in Discover public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Mental health (MH) disorders remain a major global public health concern, disproportionately affecting adolescents and young people living with HIV (AYPLHIV). Limited access to MH services, stigma, and a shortage of trained professionals hinder effective care, particularly in low-resource settings. Mobile health (mHealth) applications have emerged as accessible and scalable tools for improving MH support and reducing disparities in service delivery. This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of mHealth applications in improving access to MH services and outcomes among AYPLHIV and comparable populations globally. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies published between January 2020 and March 2025. Eligible studies evaluated mobile or app-based interventions designed to enhance MH access, engagement, or outcomes. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, SMS-only interventions, and non-empirical studies were excluded. Two independent reviewers (CM and PS) screened articles, extracted data, and assessed study quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools. Data were synthesized narratively following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 framework. Results: Of 265 records identified, 16 empirical studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies covered Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya), Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran, Malaysia), Europe (Spain, Poland, United Kingdom), North America (USA), and Oceania (Australia), and employed randomized controlled trials, mixed-methods, pre-post, and cross-sectional designs. Across studies, mobile interventions consistently improved user engagement, accessibility, and MH outcomes, including significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms ( Conclusions: mHealth applications substantially improve access to and delivery of MH services for AYPLHIV and related groups. Integration of these tools into existing health systems, combined with culturally tailored design, ethical AI use, and sustainability strategies, can strengthen MH care globally. Future research should address long-term impact, cost-effectiveness, and equity in implementation. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12982-026-01998-9.
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