Insaka: mobile phone support groups for adolescent pregnant women living with HIV

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Nikita Simpson¹  Sarah Fidler²  Hugo Schlesinger³  Anna Kydd³  Maurice Biriotti³  Malebo Ngobeni³  Tebogo Monese³  Zuzana Figerova³  Steve Belemu⁴  Musonda Simwinga⁴  Thomas Gachie⁴  Madalitso Mbewe⁴  Lucheka Sigande⁴  Mwelwa Phiri⁴  Ab Schaap⁴  Helen Ayles⁵  Virginia Bond⁶ 

[1] Department of Anthropology, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK;SHM Foundation, 20-22 Bedford Row, London, UK;Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, London, UK;SHM Foundation, 20-22 Bedford Row, London, UK;Zambart, Lusaka, Zambia;Zambart, Lusaka, Zambia;Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK;Zambart, Lusaka, Zambia;Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK;

关键词: Mobile phones;    Pregnancy;    Adolescents;    Psychosocial support;    Peer support;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12884-021-04140-6

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMobile phone-based interventions have been demonstrated in different settings to overcome barriers to accessing critical psychosocial support. In this study, we aimed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of a phone-based, peer-to-peer support group intervention for adolescent pregnant women aged 15–24 years living with HIV in Zambia.MethodsSixty-one consenting participants were recruited from Antenatal Clinics of two large urban communities in Lusaka. They were invited to participate in the mobile phone-based intervention that allowed them to anonymously communicate in a small group led by a facilitator for 4 months. A mixed methods approach was used to assess acceptability and feasibility, including a focus group discussion, pre- and post-intervention interview and analysis of the content of the text message data generated.ResultsParticipants reported finding the platform “not hard to use” and enjoyed the anonymity of the groups. Seventy-one percent of participants (n = 43) participated in the groups, meaning they sent text messages to their groups. Approximately 12,000 text messages were sent by participants (an average of 169 messages/user and 6 mentors in 6 groups. Topics discussed were related to social support and relationships, stigma, HIV knowledge and medication adherence.ConclusionThe study showed that the intervention was acceptable and feasible, and highlighted the potential of the model for overcoming existing barriers to provision of psychosocial support to this population.

【 授权许可】

CC BY