JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Young Black women, ages 18 to 24, are disproportionately impacted by HIV yet have low self-perception of risk and limited exposure to prevention strategies. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a safe and effective biomedical HIV-prevention strategy for those at risk for HIV infection- yet uptake has been slow among cisgender women. Family planning clinics are a primary source of health care access for adolescent women, providing an ideal opportunity to integrate PrEP information and care into existing clinic practices.

Objective:

Describe the development and pilot test of In the Loop mobile health app.

Methods:

Utilizing user-centered design, the In the Loop app was developed in collaboration with a community advisory board of young Black women. This study employed a multi-stage design, which included community-engaged app development, user testing, and evaluation of feasibility and acceptability. A pre/post design was used to assess the impact of the app on PrEP knowledge immediate post use.

Results:

Analysis comparing scores pre- immediate post using the app revealed a significant increase in PrEP content knowledge scores on a 7-item true/false scale (z= -6.04, p<.001). Overall, participants considered the In the Loop app feasible and acceptable to use while waiting for a family planning visit.

Conclusions:

Next steps for the In the Loop app include implementing user-suggested improvements and further testing in a randomized control trial to determine impact on PrEP uptake.