Department of Paediatrics, Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa.
George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
Reprod Health. 2022 Dec 1;19(1):217. doi: 10.1186/s12978-022-01519-2.
BACKGROUND: South Africa has one of the highest burdens of adolescents with perinatally-acquired HIV (APHIV) in the world. APHIV in South Africa have limited access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and services specific to their HIV status. When lacking comprehensive SRH education, APHIV are prone to sexual risk behaviors that can lead to unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV transmission. The use of mHealth interventions has been shown to deliver information, foster social support, and improve decision-making skills. In this study, we evaluate how an mHealth intervention influences sexual health knowledge and behaviors in APHIV. METHODS: We purposively enrolled adolescents from the intervention arm of a randomized clinical trial assessing a multi-module, moderated WhatsApp-based intervention-Interactive Transition Support for Adolescents Living with HIV (InTSHA)-within a government supported clinic in KwaMashu, an urban township of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We conducted in-depth interviews based on World Health Organization guidelines for asking adolescents about SRH. We thematically analyzed data through an iterative, team-based coding approach combining deductive and inductive elements to contextualize SRH attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors before and after receiving the InTSHA intervention. RESULTS: Of the 21 participants, 13 (61.9%) were female and the mean age was 16.6 years. Most participants reported first learning about SRH as young teenagers in school through non-targeted and negative ways, seeking clarification through peers and the internet rather than clinicians or caregivers. Participants reported that InTSHA provided a holistic perspective on relationships, gender, and sexuality specific to growing up with HIV in South Africa. They praised the ability to give and receive information from peers in a moderated setting through the mHealth intervention, building their confidence, decision-making skills, and communication with partners and caregivers throughout their everyday lives. Despite reporting some technological challenges, adolescents agreed that InTSHA was convenient, confidential, and user-friendly. CONCLUSIONS: South African APHIV receive incomplete and conflicting sexual education from peers, caregivers, teachers, and technology that can be supplemented by mHealth curricula targeted for the unique needs of APHIV. Future, scaled-up mHealth interventions can lower SRH stigma by expanding access to sexual education and peer support, supplementing adolescents' existing SRH education.
背景:南非是全世界艾滋病母婴传播(APHIV)青少年负担最重的国家之一。南非的 APHIV 获得的性与生殖健康(SRH)教育和专门针对其 HIV 状况的服务非常有限。当缺乏全面的 SRH 教育时,APHIV 容易发生性行为风险,从而导致意外怀孕、性传播感染和 HIV 传播。移动健康(mHealth)干预措施的使用已被证明可以提供信息、培养社会支持并提高决策技能。在这项研究中,我们评估了 mHealth 干预措施如何影响 APHIV 的性健康知识和行为。
方法:我们在南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省夸马舒乌市的一家政府支持的诊所,从一项评估多模块、由 moderated WhatsApp 支持的干预措施(交互式青少年艾滋病生活支持)的随机临床试验的干预组中,有目的地招募青少年。我们根据世界卫生组织(WHO)关于向青少年询问性健康问题的指南进行深入访谈。我们通过一种迭代的、基于团队的编码方法对数据进行主题分析,该方法结合了演绎和归纳元素,以在接受 InTSHA 干预之前和之后对 SRH 态度、知识和行为进行情境化。
结果:21 名参与者中,有 13 名(61.9%)为女性,平均年龄为 16.6 岁。大多数参与者报告说,他们在十几岁时在学校通过非目标和负面的方式首次了解性健康知识,通过同龄人而不是临床医生或照顾者来寻求澄清。参与者报告说,InTSHA 提供了一个针对在南非感染艾滋病毒的青少年的关系、性别和性行为的整体视角。他们称赞通过 mHealth 干预在一个受 moderated 的环境中从同龄人那里获得和提供信息的能力,这增强了他们的信心、决策技能,并在日常生活中与伴侣和照顾者进行沟通。尽管报告了一些技术挑战,青少年们还是认为 InTSHA 方便、保密且易于使用。
结论:南非的 APHIV 从同龄人、照顾者、教师和技术中获得不完整且相互矛盾的性教育,这可以通过针对 APHIV 的独特需求的 mHealth 课程来补充。未来,扩大规模的 mHealth 干预措施可以通过扩大性教育和同伴支持的获取来降低 SRH 耻辱感,从而补充青少年现有的 SRH 教育。
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024-12-24
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024-1-31
BMC Res Notes. 2022-4-9