JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The use of mobile technology in health care (mHealth) could be an innovative way to improve health care, especially for increasing retention in HIV care and adherence to treatment. However, there is a scarcity of studies on mHealth among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in West and Central Africa.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability of a mHealth intervention among PLHIV in three countries of West Africa.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study among PLHIV was conducted in 2017 in three francophone West African countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo. PLHIV followed in the six pre-selected HIV treatment and care centers completed a standardized questionnaire on mobile phone possession, acceptability of mobile phone for HIV care and treatment, preference of mobile phone services and phone sharing. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to describe variables and assess factors associated with mHealth acceptability.

Results:

A total of 1,131 PLHIV, 643 from Côte d’Ivoire, 239 from Togo and 249 from Burkina Faso participated in the study. Median age was 44 and 76.1% were females (n=861). Almost all the sample owned a mobile phone (97.9%, n=1,107) and 12.6% (n=140) shared phones with a third party. Acceptability of mHealth was 98.8% with the majority indicating their preference for both phone calls and text messages. Factors associated with mHealth acceptability were having a primary school education or no education level (aOR= 7.15; 95% CI [5.05-10.12]; P<.001) and waiting over one hour before meeting a medical doctor on appointment day (aOR=1.84; 95% CI [1.30-2.62]; P=.01).

Conclusions:

The use of mHealth in HIV treatment and care is highly acceptable among PLHIV and should be considered as a viable tool to allow West and Central African countries to achieve the 90-90-90 goals.