Impact of Mobile Phone-Based Interventions on Methamphetamine Use and High-risk Sexual Behaviors in Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

Today, increased use of methamphetamine in homosexual men is associated with high-risk sexual behaviors and (HIV) epidemic. Mobile phone-based interventions are an accessible and rapid method to provide healthcare services to this population. This study aimed to systematically review the effects of mobile phone-based interventions on methamphetamine use and high-risk sexual behaviors in homosexual men.

METHODS

This systematic review was conducted by two researchers via searching in PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases to retrieve the published articles regarding the effects of mobile phone-based interventions on the control of methamphetamine use and high-risk sexual behaviors.

FINDINGS

Among 250 unique articles that were retrieved, only five cases met all the inclusion criteria of the study. Accordingly, some of the applied interventions included text messaging (n = 4) and mobile apps (n = 1). In this regard, the use of text messaging significantly decreased the rates of methamphetamine use, condomless anal intercourse (CAI), and HIV transmission among homosexual men.

CONCLUSION

According to the results, short-term interventions based on text messaging could decrease the rates of methamphetamine use and the high-risk sexual behaviors associated with HIV infection in homosexual men. Despite the positive impact of these interventions, long-term follow-ups are required for individuals using methamphetamine in different communities.