Changes in Adherence and Viral Load Suppression Among People with HIV in Manila: Outcomes of the Philippines Connect for Life Study.

The Philippines HIV epidemic is among the fastest growing globally. Infections among men who have sex with men are rising at an alarming rate, necessitating targeted evidence-based interventions to retain people living with HIV in care, support adherence, and reach viral suppression. We conducted a 48-week prospective cohort study of 462 participants in which we provided a mobile health (mHealth) adherence support intervention using the Connect for Life platform. We observed an improvement in adherence, with the proportion of participants taking more than 95% of their antiretroviral therapy (ART) doses increasing from 78.6% at baseline to 90.3% at 48 weeks. Among treatment experienced participants, adherence improved significantly (McNemar's test = 21.88, P < 0.001). Viral load suppression did not change, with 92.6% suppression at baseline and 92.0% at 48 weeks. Illicit drug use was associated with reduced adherence (aOR = 0.56, 95%CI 0.31-1.00, P = 0.05) and being on second-line therapy was associated with poor viral load suppression (aOR = 0.33, 95%CI 0.14-0.78, P = 0.01). Quality of life improved following ART initiation, from a mean of 84.6 points (of a possible 120) at baseline to 91.01 at 48 weeks. Due to technical issues, fidelity to the intended intervention was low, with 22.1% (102/462) of participants receiving any voice calls and most others receiving a scaled-back SMS intervention. The mHealth intervention did not have any observed effect on adherence or on viral load suppression. While evidence of effectiveness of mHealth adherence interventions is mixed, these platforms should continue to be explored as part of differentiated treatment support services.

Misconceptions, Misinformation, and Misperceptions: A Case for Removing the "Mis-" When Discussing Contraceptive Beliefs.

Beliefs about contraception are commonly conceptualized as playing an important role in contraceptive decision-making. Interventions designed to address beliefs typically include counseling to dispel any "myths" or "misconceptions." These interventions currently show little evidence for impact in reducing beliefs. This commentary delves into the problems associated with using implicitly negative terminology to refer to contraceptive beliefs, which come laden with assumptions as to their validity. By conceptualizing women as getting it wrong or their beliefs as invalid, it sets the scene for dubious treatment of women's concerns and hampers the design of fruitful interventions to address them. To replace the multitude of terms used, we suggest using "belief" going forward to maintain value-free curiosity and remove any implicit assumptions about the origin or validity of a belief. We provide recommendations for measuring beliefs to help researchers understand the drivers and impacts of the belief they are measuring. Finally, we discuss implications for intervention design once different types of belief are better understood. We argue that tailored interventions by belief type would help address the root causes of beliefs and better meet women's broader contraceptive needs, such as the need for contraceptive autonomy and satisfaction.

Adolescent Health Series: Engagement with young people as partners in health research: Four case studies from Sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVES: Existing health services for young people (YP)(10-24 years), which are predominantly designed for but not with young people, often do not meet YP's needs. The 2018 Global Consensus Statement on meaningful adolescent and youth engagement affirms that YP have a fundamental right to actively and meaningfully engage in all matters that affect their lives. We present four case studies from three countries in sub-Saharan Africa as practical examples of the engagement of young people as partners in health research. We critically reflect on best practices to inform and guide the increasing adoption of collaborative approaches. METHODS: We developed a narrative summary of each case study through review of study documentation and discussions with research staff and young people. A youth engagement framework was used to describe partnership activities according to the following dimensions: purpose, process, positioning, perspective, power relations, place and protection. We reflected on innovative practices used, overall level of participation achieved and strategies to address ethical, logistical and/or financial barriers. RESULTS: In all case studies, we found evidence of engagement activities that aligned with the Global Consensus Statement on Meaningful Youth Engagement. However, access to participation was often uneven and despite efforts, marginalised young people continue to have insufficient opportunities to engage. Furthermore, although young people had some opportunity to influence the research methods, many of the key design decisions had been determined prior to their involvement. In our case studies, researchers had built in insufficient opportunities to evaluate the level and impact of youth engagement. CONCLUSIONS: We therefore recommend early involvement of young people in the research process so that they can contribute to setting the research agenda, the design of planned studies and thus increase the scope of their engagement from the beginning. Youth engagement activities need to be evaluated from the perspective of all stakeholders including young people themselves with a focus on opportunities to engage, the level of engagement achieved and impact of engagement. From the beginning, researchers should provide space for learning, and involve young people in encouraging critical reflection of what does not yet work, as well as what does, to enable improvements.

What do adolescents value most and is this affected by HIV status? Aspirations and self-perceptions from a large cohort study in South Africa.

Hundreds of millions of adolescents across Africa face challenges in many areas of their lives, including elevated risk of HIV exposure and acquisition. Understanding the aspirations and self-perceptions of adolescents could play an important role in better targeting effective investments to break the cycle of adversity for adolescents and into their adulthood. Aiming to understand what adolescents value most for themselves and their future, we analysed and summarised cross-sectional data on the aspirations and self-perceptions of 1519 adolescents living in South Africa, overall and by HIV status. Outcomes were coded from participant responses to two open-ended questions: 'What job do you want to do when you grow up?' and 'What are you most proud of about yourself?'. Associations with HIV status were then evaluated using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for six sociodemographic factors measured from the same cohort. The sample had a mean age of 14 years, 55% were female, and 70% were living with HIV. The five most common job aspirations were: 'Health and Medical Science Professionals' (28%), 'Law Enforcement and Public Safety Professionals' (14%), 'Social Work Associate Professionals' (12%), 'Legal Professionals' (9%), and 'Education Institutions Teaching Professionals' (6%). The top five themes for what adolescents were most proud of about themselves were 'School performance' (22%), 'Outward appearance' (15%), 'Sports skills' (12%), 'Personality' (11%), and 'Behaviour at home/with elders' (7%). Adjusted analysis showed no evidence that HIV status was associated with important differences in aspirations or self-perceptions. In conclusion, adolescents facing high levels of adversity in South Africa hold high value for their education and aspirations for their futures. Policies and initiatives should focus on meeting these aspirations as vehicles for development, independent of their HIV status. Therefore, more needs to be done to not just help adolescents survive but thrive into adulthood.

Effectiveness and costs associated with a lay counselor-delivered, brief problem-solving mental health intervention for adolescents in urban, low-income schools in India: 12-month outcomes of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial interventions for adolescent mental health problems are effective, but evidence on their longer-term outcomes is scarce, especially in low-resource settings. We report on the 12-month sustained effectiveness and costs of scaling up a lay counselor-delivered, transdiagnostic problem-solving intervention for common adolescent mental health problems in low-income schools in New Delhi, India. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Participants in the original trial were 250 school-going adolescents (mean [M] age = 15.61 years, standard deviation [SD] = 1.68), including 174 (69.6%) who identified as male. Participants were recruited from 6 government schools over a period of 4 months (August 20 to December 14, 2018) and were selected on the basis of elevated mental health symptoms and distress/functional impairment. A 2-arm, randomized controlled trial design was used to examine the effectiveness of a lay counselor-delivered, problem-solving intervention (4 to 5 sessions over 3 weeks) with supporting printed booklets (intervention arm) in comparison with problem solving delivered via printed booklets alone (control arm), at the original endpoints of 6 and 12 weeks. The protocol was modified, as per the recommendation of the Trial Steering Committee, to include a post hoc extension of the follow-up period to 12 months. Primary outcomes were adolescent-reported psychosocial problems (Youth Top Problems [YTP]) and mental health symptoms (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire [SDQ] Total Difficulties scale). Other self-reported outcomes included SDQ subscales, perceived stress, well-being, and remission. The sustained effects of the intervention were estimated at the 12-month endpoint and over 12 months (the latter assumed a constant effect across 3 follow-up points) using a linear mixed model for repeated measures and involving complete case analysis. Sensitivity analyses examined the effect of missing data using multiple imputations. Costs were estimated for delivering the intervention during the trial and from modeling a scale-up scenario, using a retrospective ingredients approach. Out of the 250 original trial participants, 176 (70.4%) adolescents participated in the 12-month follow-up assessment. One adverse event was identified during follow-up and deemed unrelated to the intervention. Evidence was found for intervention effects on both SDQ Total Difficulties and YTP at 12 months (YTP: adjusted mean difference [AMD] = -0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.47, -0.03, p = 0.04; SDQ Total Difficulties: AMD = -1.73, 95% CI = -3.47, 0.02, p = 0.05), with stronger effects over 12 months (YTP: AMD = -0.98, 95% CI = -1.51, -0.45, p < 0.001; SDQ Total Difficulties: AMD = -1.23, 95% CI = -2.37, -0.09; p = 0.03). There was also evidence for intervention effects on internalizing symptoms, impairment, perceived stress, and well-being over 12 months. The intervention effect was stable for most outcomes on sensitivity analyses adjusting for missing data; however, for SDQ Total Difficulties and impairment, the effect was slightly attenuated. The per-student cost of delivering the intervention during the trial was $3 United States dollars (USD; or $158 USD per case) and for scaling up the intervention in the modeled scenario was $4 USD (or $23 USD per case). The scaling up cost accounted for 0.4% of the per-student school budget in New Delhi. The main limitations of the study's methodology were the lack of sample size calculations powered for 12-month follow-up and the absence of cost-effectiveness analyses using the primary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed that a lay counselor-delivered, brief transdiagnostic problem-solving intervention had sustained effects on psychosocial problems and mental health symptoms over the 12-month follow-up period. Scaling up this resource-efficient intervention is an affordable policy goal for improving adolescents' access to mental health care in low-resource settings. The findings need to be interpreted with caution, as this study was a post hoc extension, and thus, the sample size calculations did not take into account the relatively high attrition rate observed during the long-term follow-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03630471.

Modern contraceptive use among unmarried girls aged 15-19 years in South Western Nigeria: results from a cross-sectional baseline survey for the Adolescent 360 (A360) impact evaluation.

PURPOSE: Adolescents 360 (A360) is an initiative being rolled out across Nigeria with the aim of increasing voluntary modern contraception use among women aged 15 to 19 years. Using evaluation study baseline data, we identified sexuality, fertility and contraceptive use characteristics of young unmarried girls in South Western Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional baseline survey of unmarried girls aged 15 to 19 years was conducted in Ogun state, Nigeria in August 2017. A clustered sampling design was used. We identified determinants of modern contraceptive use in this subpopulation using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 12,024 women interviewed, 15.3% reported sexual intercourse in the past year. The majority of respondents (79.6%, 9525/11,967) had heard of contraception. 45.3% of sexually active respondents were using a modern contraceptive method. Of those using any method of contraception, male condoms (50.3%) were the most widely used modern method followed by the emergency contraceptive pill (16.7%). Following adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics, there was evidence that the use of modern contraception was positively associated with having never given birth, living in an urban area, current enrolment in education, high level of education, high socioeconomic status, exposure to information about contraception, perceived social support for contraception, and self-efficacy for contraception. CONCLUSIONS: In South Western Nigeria, unmarried sexually active adolescent girls have relatively low levels of modern contraceptive use. Programmes should aim to increase access to modern contraception and to increase social support and acceptability of contraceptive use.

Risk factors affecting adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV patients in Manila, Philippines: a baseline cross-sectional analysis of the Philippines Connect for Life Study.

Background The Philippines HIV epidemic is one of the fastest growing, globally. Infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) are rising at an alarming rate, necessitating targeted evidence-based interventions to reach epidemic control. Treatment as prevention is a key strategy to end AIDS, making it a priority to explore novel approaches to retain people living with HIV (PLHIV) in care, support adherence, and reach viral suppression. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis describes HIV-related risk behaviours and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a population of HIV-positive patients at a clinic in Metro Manila, Philippines participating in the Philippines Connect for LifeTM cohort study. RESULTS: Among 426 HIV-positive adults taking ART, 79% reported ≥95% adherence over the prior 30 days. Longer time on treatment was associated with reduced adherence to ART (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.87 per year, P = 0.027). Being in a serodiscordant relationship, in which the subject's primary partner was HIV negative, increased adherence (AOR = 3.19, P = 0.006). Inconsistent condom use (AOR = 0.50, P = 0.103) and injection drug use (AOR = 0.54, P = 0.090) are potentially associated with reduced adherence to ART. Patients used drugs and alcohol at significantly higher rates than the general population.? CONCLUSIONS: The study found that patients in this setting require intervention to address treatment fatigue. Interventions to improve social support of PLHIV, as well as harm-reduction approaches for drug and alcohol use, could improve adherence in this population, strengthening the test-and-treat strategy to control the epidemic.

Primary healthcare and school health service utilisation by adolescents and young adults in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Young people aged 10-24 years are a vulnerable group with poor health service access relative to other populations. Recent South African initiatives, the She Conquers campaign, the Integrated School Health Policy and the Adolescent & Youth Health Policy, include a focus on improving the breadth and quality of youth-friendly health service delivery. However, in some settings the provision and impact of scaled-up youth friendly health services has been limited indicating a gap between policy and implementation. In this study we reviewed existing sources of data on health service utilisation to answer the following question: 'What health conditions do young people present with and what services do they receive at public health clinics, mobile clinics and school health services?' METHODS: We conducted a retrospective register review in three purposively selected primary healthcare clinics (PHCC), one mobile clinic, and one school health team in Hlabisa and Mtubatuba sub-districts of uMkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The focus was service utilisation for any reason by 10-24 year olds. We also conducted descriptive analysis of pre-existing data on service utilisation by young people available from the District Health Information System for all 17 PHCC in the study sub-districts. RESULTS: Three quarters of 4121 recorded young person visits in the register review were by females, and 40% of all young person visits were by females aged 20-24 years. The most common presenting conditions were HIV-related, antenatal care, family planning, general non-specific complaints and respiratory problems (excluding TB). There were relatively few recorded consultations for other common conditions affecting young people such as mental health and nutritional problems. Antibiotics, antiretrovirals, contraceptives, vitamins/supplements, and analgesics were most commonly provided. Routine health registers recorded limited information, were often incomplete and/or inconsistent, and age was not routinely recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring morbidity and service provision are fundamental to informing policy and promoting responsive health systems. Efforts should be intensified to improve the quality and completeness of health registers, with attention to the documentation of important, and currently poorly documented, young people's health issues such as mental health and nutrition.

Exploring adolescents and young people's candidacy for utilising health services in a rural district, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: We use the 'candidacy framework' to describe adolescents' and young people's (AYP) experiences of health services in a rural KwaZulu-Natal district, South Africa. METHODS: A qualitative approach was used including group discussions, in-depth and key informant interviews with a purposive sample of AYP (n = 70), community leaders (n = 15), school health teams (n = 10), and health service providers (n = 6). RESULTS: Findings indicate tacit understanding among AYP that they are candidates for general health services. However, HIV stigma, apprehensions and misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health, and socio-cultural views which disapprove of AYP pre-marital sex undermine their candidacy for sexual and reproductive services. CONCLUSION: Consideration and understanding of the vulnerabilities and reasons AYP exclude themselves will inform interventions to address their health needs. AYP's participation in the design of health services will increase their acceptability and encourage uptake of services.

Sexuality, fertility and family planning characteristics of married women aged 15 to 19 years in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania: a comparative analysis of cross-sectional data.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents 360 (A360) is an initiative being rolled out across Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania with the aim of increasing uptake of voluntary modern contraception among sexually active women aged 15 to 19 years. Using evaluation baseline survey data, we described key sexuality, fertility and contraceptive use characteristics of married women aged 15 to 19 years living in three sub-national settings. METHODS: Cross-sectional baseline surveys of married women aged 15 to 19 years were conducted in Oromia (Ethiopia), Nasarawa (Northern Nigeria), and Mwanza (Tanzania) between August 2017 and February 2018. We also interviewed the husbands of a sub-group of married respondents to measure spousal acceptance and support for adolescent women to use modern contraception. A clustered sampling design was used in all three countries. We produced descriptive statistics on the socio-demographic and sexual and reproductive health characteristics of married women aged 15 to 19 years by study setting. RESULTS: In Oromia, Nasarawa and Mwanza, 31.4% (327/1198), 27.4% (1321/4816) and 7.5% (15/201) of married women surveyed had no education, and 68.3, 81.3 and 83.1% had ever been pregnant, respectively. Unmet need for modern contraception was 20.5, 21.9 and 32.0% in married women in Oromia, Nasarawa and Mwanza, made up almost entirely of unmet need for spacing. The vast majority of married women surveyed in Oromia (89.1%) and Mwanza (90.1%) had seen or heard about contraception in the last 12 months, compared to 30.1% of those surveyed in Nasarawa. Modern contraceptive prevalence (mCPR) was highest in married women aged 15 to 19 years in Oromia (47.2%), followed by Mwanza (19.4%) and Nasarawa (8.7%). Of those using a modern method of contraception in Oromia, 93.4% were using injectables or long-acting methods, compared to 49.4% in Nasarawa and 69.6% in Mwanza. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, unmet need for modern contraception is high among married women aged 15 to 19 years across the three settings. mCPR for married women aged 15 to 19 years is low in Nasarawa and Mwanza. Ultimately, no single intervention will suit all situations, but improving the quality, analyses and utilisation of subnational data can help decision-makers design more context specific interventions.

Prevalence of hypertension and high-normal blood pressure among young adults in Zimbabwe: findings from a large, cross-sectional population-based survey.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the greatest driver of cardiovascular mortality and onset might be in youth. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for elevated blood pressure (hypertension ≥140 mm Hg systolic, ≥90 mm Hg diastolic, or both) and high-normal blood pressure (130-139 mm Hg systolic, 85-89 mm Hg diastolic, or both) among youth in Zimbabwe. METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional survey of randomly sampled youth aged 18-24 years from 24 urban and peri-urban communities in three provinces (Harare, Bulawayo, and Mashonaland East) in Zimbabwe was conducted between Oct 4, 2021, and June 2, 2022. Standardised questionnaires were used by research assistants to collect sociodemographic, behavioural, and clinical data. Height, bodyweight, and blood pressure were recorded. Three seated blood pressure measurements were taken at standardised timepoints during participant interview using a digital sphygmomanometer and cuffs sized on mid-upper arm circumference. The association of potential risk factors with elevated blood pressure was examined using multivariable logistic regression. FINDINGS: 17 682 (94·4%) of 18 729 eligible participants were recruited, 17 637 (99·7%) of whom had complete data, and 16 883 (95·7%) of whom were included in the final study sample after excluding 754 (4·3%) pregnant women. The median age was 20 years (IQR 19-22), 9973 (59·1%) participants were female, and 6910 (40·9%) were male. The prevalence of hypertension was 7·4% (95% CI 7·0-7·8) and high-normal blood pressure was 12·2% (11·7-12·7). Overall, prevalence of hypertension was higher in men (8·7% [95% CI 8·2-9·6]) than in women (6·6% [6·0-6·9]), but with age increased to similar levels (at age 18 years 7·3% [6·2-8·6] and 4·3% [3·5-5·2]; at age 23-24 years 10·9% [9·3-12·6] and 9·5% [8·4-10·7] in men and women, respectively). After adjusting for factors associated with hypertension in the crude analysis, hypertension was associated with male sex (adjusted odds ratio 1·53 [95% CI 1·36-1·74]), increasing age (age 19-20 years 1·20 [1·00-1·44]; age 21-22 years 1·45 [1·20-1·75]; age 23-24 years 1·90 [1·57-2·30], vs age 18 years), and BMI of 30·0 kg/m2 or more (1·94 [1·53-2·47] vs 18·5-24·9 kg/m2). A BMI of 18·5 kg/m2 or less (0·79 [0·63-0·98] vs 18·5-24·9 kg/m2) and living with HIV (0·71 [0·55-0·92]) were associated with lower odds of hypertension. INTERPRETATION: Prevalence of elevated blood pressure is high among urban and peri-urban youth in Zimbabwe and increases rapidly with age. Further research is needed to understand drivers of blood pressure elevation and the extent of target organ damage in youth in Zimbabwe and similar sub-Saharan African settings, to guide implementation of prevention and management strategies. FUNDING: Wellcome Trust.

Recall, relevance and application of an in-school sexual and reproductive health intervention 7-9 years later: perspectives of rural Tanzanian young people.

Many adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) interventions have improved knowledge and reduced reported sexual risk behaviours, but found no impact on HIV. We explored potential reasons for this in 23 in-depth interviews, conducted 7-9 years after exposure to ASRH intervention. We discussed participants' memories and views of the relevance of the in-school intervention, and their subsequent ability to apply what they had learned. While most participants had favourable memories of the intervention, few recalled specific details. Most reported that the intervention had been relevant, although few reported being able to apply the teachings. Men found it easier to apply lessons about condoms than women. Inability to apply the intervention teachings was often linked to cultural norms around fertility and/or gender power relations. ASRH interventions should address structural factors such as the quality of parenting and explicitly link interventions to young peoples' future aspiration.

The sexual behaviour of adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: patterns and trends from national surveys.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the sexual and reproductive behaviour of adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly 15- to 19-year-olds. METHODS: Using DHS/AIS data (2000-2010), nine indicators of adolescent behaviour and one of adult attitudes towards condom education for adolescents were described for 24 countries. Indicators were disaggregated by gender, urban/rural residency and educational status, and time trends were described. RESULTS: Up to 25% of 15- to 19-year-olds reported sex before age 15; this proportion shrank over time in many countries. In most countries, ≥5% of females reported marriage before age 15, and >20% had commenced childbearing. Early sexual debut and childbearing were more common among the least educated and/or rural females. Reporting of multiple sexual partnerships was more common among males than among females, but decreases over time were more common among males. Urban males and females, and females with higher education, were more likely to report multiple partnerships. Urban youth and those with higher education also reported more condom use. Adult support for condom education for 12- to 14-year-olds has increased over time to 60-65%. CONCLUSIONS: Many 15- to 19-year-olds are at risk of HIV/STIs and unplanned pregnancies because of multiple partnerships and insufficient condom and other contraceptive use. In many countries, trends are moving in a favourable direction. To better inform prevention programmes in this important area, we recommend routine collection of sexual and reproductive behaviour data for adolescents aged <15 years, expanding the data collected for 15- to 19-year-olds to include detailed information on sexual behaviour within partnerships, and disaggregating data according to sociodemographic variables.

Interactive Mobile Phone HIV Adherence Support for Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Philippines Connect for Life Study: Mixed Methods Approach to Intervention Development and Pilot Testing.

BACKGROUND: The HIV epidemic in the Philippines is one of the fastest growing epidemics globally, and infections among men who have sex with men are rising at an alarming rate. The World Health Organization recommends the use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies to engage patients in care and ensure high levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Existing mHealth interventions can be adapted and tailored to the context and population served. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to create a locally tailored intervention using a mobile phone platform to support treatment adherence for HIV patients on ART in the Philippines. METHODS: A mixed methods approach guided by the Behavior Change Wheel framework was used to adapt an existing mHealth adherence support platform for the local setting and target population. A literature review, retrospective clinical record review, and focus group discussions with patients were conducted to understand the drivers of ART adherence and tailor the intervention accordingly. The resulting intervention was pilot-tested for 8 weeks, followed by focus group discussions with patients who received the intervention to assess the acceptability of the design. RESULTS: Key issues contributing to nonadherence included side effects, lack of behavioral skills for pill taking, social support, mental health, and substance use. Patients identified mHealth as an acceptable mode of intervention delivery and wanted mHealth services to be highly personalizable. The study team, clinicians, and software developers integrated these findings into the intervention, which included a menu of services as follows: pill reminders, health tips, adherence feedback, appointment reminders, and symptom reporting. During the pilot phase, technical issues in the interactive voice response system (IVRS) were identified and addressed. Patients who participated in the pilot phase expressed a preference for SMS text messaging over the IVRS. Patients responded positively to the appointment reminders and health tips, whereas patient feedback on daily and weekly pill reminders and adherence feedback was mixed. CONCLUSIONS: The mobile phone-based SMS text messaging and IVRS intervention was acceptable to men who have sex with men in Manila, the Philippines, and qualitative analysis suggested that the intervention helped promote ART adherence and appointment attendance.

Delivering an mHealth Adherence Support Intervention for Patients With HIV: Mixed Methods Process Evaluation of the Philippines Connect for Life Study.

BACKGROUND: The Philippines HIV epidemic is one of the fastest growing epidemics globally, and infections among men who have sex with men are increasing at an alarming rate. Connect for Life Philippines is a mobile health (mHealth) intervention that supports antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence in this key population through individualized voice calls and SMS text messages. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this process evaluation is to assess the intervention reach, dose delivered and received, fidelity, and acceptability and to describe contextual factors affecting the implementation of an mHealth adherence support intervention for patients on ART in a clinic in Metro Manila, Philippines. METHODS: A mixed methods process evaluation approach was used in an observational cohort study. Quantitative data sources for the process evaluation were call and SMS text message logs obtained from the mHealth platform and questionnaires collected at 12-, 24-, and 48-week study visits. Qualitative data were collected from process reports and through a series of focus group discussions conducted with a subset of participants during the intervention development phase, after an initial 8-week pilot phase, and at the end of the study. RESULTS: The 462 study participants received 31,095 interactive voice calls and 8234 SMS text messages during the study. Owing to technical issues, intervention fidelity was low, with only 22.1% (102/462) of the participants receiving reminders via voice calls and others (360/462, 77.9%) receiving only SMS text messages during the intervention. After 48 weeks in the study, 63.5% (293/462) of the participants reported that they would be quite likely or very likely to recommend the program to a friend, and 53.8% (249/462) of the participants reported that they benefited quite a bit or very much from the intervention. Participants who were on ART for <6 months at the beginning of the study and those who received the daily or weekly pill reminders were more likely to report that they benefited from the intervention (P=.02 and P=.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The Connect for Life intervention had high participant satisfaction and acceptability, especially among those who received high dose of the intervention. However, poor reliability of local telecommunication networks had a large impact on the intervention's usability, fidelity, and dose received.

Mobile Phone Access and Implications for Digital Health Interventions Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Zimbabwe: Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: Mobile phones may help young people (YP) access health information and support health service engagement. However, in low-income settings there is limited knowledge on YP's phone and internet access to inform the feasibility of implementing digital health interventions. OBJECTIVE: We investigated access to information and communication technologies among adolescents and young adults in Zimbabwe. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted from October to December 2018 among YP aged 13-24 years in 5 communities in urban and peri-urban Harare and Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe. Consenting YP completed a self-completed tablet-based questionnaire on mobile phone ownership and use, and use of the internet. The primary outcome was the proportion who reported owning a mobile phone. Secondary outcomes included phone and internet access and use behavior, and ownership and use of other technological devices. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with mobile phone ownership and with internet access, with adjustment for the one-stage cluster sampling design. A priori exploratory variables were age, sex, marital status, and urban/peri-urban residence. RESULTS: A total of 634/719 (88.2%) eligible YP, mean age 18.0 years (SD 3.3) and 62.6% (397/634) females, participated. Of the YP interviewed, 62.6% (396/633; 95% CI 58.5-66.5) reported owning a phone and a further 4.3% (27/633) reported having access to a shared phone. Phone ownership increased with age: 27.0% (43/159) of 13-15-year olds, 61.0% (72/118) of 16-17-year olds, 71.5% (103/144) of 18-19-year olds, and 84.7% (171/202) of 20-24-year olds (odds ratio [OR] 1.4, 95% CI 1.3-1.5) per year increase. Ownership was similar among females and males: 61.0% (236/387; 95% CI 55.6-66.1) versus 64.8% (153/236; 95% CI 57.8-71.2), age-adjusted OR 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-1.1); higher in those with secondary level education compared to primary or no education: 67.1% (346/516; 95% CI 62.6-71.2) versus 26% (21/82; 95% CI 16.4-37.7), age-adjusted OR 2.3 (95% CI 1.1-4.8); and similar across other sociodemographic factors. YP reported that 85.3% (361/423) of phones, either owned or shared, were smartphones. Among phone owners, the most commonly used phone app was WhatsApp (71.2%, 282/396), and 16.4% (65/396) reported having ever used their phone to track their health. A total of 407/631 (64.5%; 95% CI 60.3-68.5) currently had access to the internet (used in last 3 months on any device) with access increasing with age (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.2-1.3 per year increase). In age-adjusted analysis, internet access was higher among males, the unmarried, those with a higher level of education, phone owners, and those who had lived in the community for more than 1 year. The aspect of the internet that YP most disliked was unwanted sexual (29.2%, 136/465) and violent (13.1%, 61/465) content. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile phone-based interventions may be feasible in this population; however, such interventions could increase inequity, especially if they require access to the internet. Internet-based interventions should consider potential risks for participants and incorporate skill-building sessions on safe internet and phone use.

Designing Routine Health Checkups for Adolescents in Zimbabwe.

PURPOSE: The absence of routine health check-ups during adolescence in low- and middle-income countries is a missed opportunity for prevention, early identification, and treatment of health issues, and health promotion. We aimed to codesign the content and delivery for routine adolescent health checkups in Zimbabwe, with adolescents and key adults in their lives. METHODS: We held participatory workshops with adolescents (16 workshops; 96 adolescents) and parents (8 workshops; 95 parents), and in-depth interviews with key informants including policymakers, programmers, and healthcare workers (n = 25). Analysis was iterative and the design of the checkups was refined based on participant preferences, document review of burden of disease data, and feasibility considerations. RESULTS: Participants overwhelmingly supported the introduction of routine health checkups. Reported facilitators to attendance included free cost and desire to know one's health status. Barriers included tendencies for health service seeking only when ill, fear of diagnosis and judgment, and religious beliefs. Delivery preferences were by nonjudgmental medical professionals, in a youth friendly environment, and accompanied by youth engagement activities. Preferred location was schools for younger adolescents (10-14 years), and community settings for older adolescents (15-19 years). Prioritized content included sexual health, oral health, mental health, hearing, eyesight, growth and nutrition, anemia, immunization, and deworming, based on health burden and participant preferences. DISCUSSION: This study resulted in an outline design of two routine health checkups with stakeholders in Zimbabwe, in schools for young adolescents, and in community settings for older adolescents. Evidence of feasibility, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of such checkups is required.

Long-term biological and behavioural impact of an adolescent sexual health intervention in Tanzania: follow-up survey of the community-based MEMA kwa Vijana Trial.

BACKGROUND: The ability of specific behaviour-change interventions to reduce HIV infection in young people remains questionable. Since January 1999, an adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) intervention has been implemented in ten randomly chosen intervention communities in rural Tanzania, within a community randomised trial (see below; NCT00248469). The intervention consisted of teacher-led, peer-assisted in-school education, youth-friendly health services, community activities, and youth condom promotion and distribution. Process evaluation in 1999-2002 showed high intervention quality and coverage. A 2001/2 intervention impact evaluation showed no impact on the primary outcomes of HIV seroincidence and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence but found substantial improvements in SRH knowledge, reported attitudes, and some reported sexual behaviours. It was postulated that the impact on "upstream" knowledge, attitude, and reported behaviour outcomes seen at the 3-year follow-up would, in the longer term, lead to a reduction in HIV and HSV-2 infection rates and other biological outcomes. A further impact evaluation survey in 2007/8 ( approximately 9 years post-intervention) tested this hypothesis. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This is a cross-sectional survey (June 2007 through July 2008) of 13,814 young people aged 15-30 y who had attended trial schools during the first phase of the MEMA kwa Vijana intervention trial (1999-2002). Prevalences of the primary outcomes HIV and HSV-2 were 1.8% and 25.9% in males and 4.0% and 41.4% in females, respectively. The intervention did not significantly reduce risk of HIV (males adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 0.91, 95%CI 0.50-1.65; females aPR 1.07, 95%CI 0.68-1.67) or HSV-2 (males aPR 0.94, 95%CI 0.77-1.15; females aPR 0.96, 95%CI 0.87-1.06). The intervention was associated with a reduction in the proportion of males reporting more than four sexual partners in their lifetime (aPR 0.87, 95%CI 0.78-0.97) and an increase in reported condom use at last sex with a non-regular partner among females (aPR 1.34, 95%CI 1.07-1.69). There was a clear and consistent beneficial impact on knowledge, but no significant impact on reported attitudes to sexual risk, reported pregnancies, or other reported sexual behaviours. The study population was likely to have been, on average, at lower risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections compared to other rural populations, as only youth who had reached year five of primary school were eligible. CONCLUSIONS: SRH knowledge can be improved and retained long-term, but this intervention had only a limited effect on reported behaviour and no significant effect on HIV/STI prevalence. Youth interventions integrated within intensive, community-wide risk reduction programmes may be more successful and should be evaluated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00248469

Behavioural and socio-ecological factors that influence access and utilisation of health services by young people living in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Implications for intervention.

BACKGROUND: Young people's health service utilisation (the number accessing a facility) has been the focus of guidelines and health systems strengthening policies. This is due to young people being at an increased health risk because of inequitable access and utilisation of health services, which is more pronounced in rural settings with limited service availability. This is a major concern as globally, youth constitute a considerable and increasing part of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive approach for the exploration of health service utilisation by young people in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We examined barriers and facilitators conceptualised by the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, framed within a socio-ecological model. METHODS: Data were collected in January to June 2017 from two sites using in-depth interviews, spiral transect walks and community mapping with young people (aged 10 to 24 years), primary care health providers, school health professionals, community stakeholders and young people's parents. RESULTS: Socio-ecological and behavioural factors influenced young people's intention to use services. Barriers included perceived negative attitudes of health providers and perceived poor staff competencies. Facilitators included an appreciation of receiving health education and assumed improved health. At social and community levels, normative beliefs hindered young people from utilising services as they feared stigmatisation and gossip. At a public policy level, structural elements had a disempowering effect as the physical layout of the clinics hindered utilisation, limited resources influenced staffing, and facility opening times were not convenient for school goers. CONCLUSION: We suggest that to fully appreciate the complexity of health service utilisation, it is necessary to not only consider factors and processes relevant to the individual, but also acknowledge and act upon, the disjuncture between community level cultural values, norms and national policies.

Clustering of health risk behaviors among adolescents in Kilifi, Kenya, a rural Sub-Saharan African setting.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents tend to experience heightened vulnerability to risky and reckless behavior. Adolescents living in rural settings may often experience poverty and a host of risk factors which can increase their vulnerability to various forms of health risk behavior (HRB). Understanding HRB clustering and its underlying factors among adolescents is important for intervention planning and health promotion. This study examines the co-occurrence of injury and violence, substance use, hygiene, physical activity, and diet-related risk behaviors among adolescents in a rural setting on the Kenyan coast. Specifically, the study objectives were to identify clusters of HRB; based on five categories of health risk behavior, and to identify the factors associated with HRB clustering. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of a random sample of 1060 adolescents aged 13-19 years living within the area covered by the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System. Participants completed a questionnaire on health behaviors which was administered via an Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview. Latent class analysis on 13 behavioral factors (injury and violence, hygiene, alcohol tobacco and drug use, physical activity, and dietary related behavior) was used to identify clustering and stepwise ordinal logistic regression with nonparametric bootstrapping identified the factors associated with clustering. The variables of age, sex, education level, school attendance, mental health, form of residence and level of parental monitoring were included in the initial stepwise regression model. RESULTS: We identified 3 behavioral clusters (Cluster 1: Low-risk takers (22.9%); Cluster 2: Moderate risk-takers (67.8%); Cluster 3: High risk-takers (9.3%)). Relative to the cluster 1, membership of higher risk clusters (i.e. moderate or high risk-takers) was strongly associated with older age (p<0.001), being male (p<0.001), depressive symptoms (p = 0.005), school non-attendance (p = 0.001) and a low level of parental monitoring (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There is clustering of health risk behaviors that underlies communicable and non-communicable diseases among adolescents in rural coastal Kenya. This suggests the urgent need for targeted multi-component health behavior interventions that simultaneously address all aspects of adolescent health and well-being, including the mental health needs of adolescents.