The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Mobile Applications for HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Jackson Jr Nforbewing Ndenkeh, LaRon E Nelson, Ange Bogning and 7 others
PMID 38569188WHAT IT FOUND
In Yaoundé, 572 of 637 young women were willing to use mobile apps for HIV testing, PrEP, or treatment; most had smartphones, but cost, privacy, and digital access were barriers.
Key findings
01598 of 637 participants had an internet-connected smartphone.
02572 participants were willing to use mobile apps for any one of HIV testing, PrEP, or treatment services.
03After adjustment, willingness was associated with age 21 to 25 years, previous use of a health app or phone health-information search, and HIV testing less than 12 months ago.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
It was a cross-sectional survey in Yaoundé, so it cannot show app use changes HIV testing, PrEP uptake, or treatment outcomes. Sampling was nonprobabilistic and used convenience and snowball methods, so participants may not represent all young women in Cameroon. Most participants came from the Grand West zone (426 of 637), and internet coverage and cost differ in suburban and rural areas. All participants were 18 years or older, despite the title referring to adolescent girls. Willingness and phone access were self-reported, and some sensitive questions were answered on data collectors' phones. No mobile app intervention was tested; the outcomes were willingness and reasons.
Declared interests
Authors declared no real or perceived conflicts of interest. The study received funds from Yale University School of Nursing through the PRIME Research Grant awarded to Z. Ni.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read high willingness as evidence that mobile apps improve HIV testing, PrEP uptake, or treatment outcomes. This study measured self-reported willingness and phone access in Yaoundé and did not test an app.