Suubi-Mhealth: A Mobile Health Intervention to Address Depression and Improve ART Adherence Among Youth Living With HIV (YLHIV) in Uganda
Washington University School of Medicine
Summary
The overall goal of this study is to develop an mHealth intervention (Suubi-Mhealth) for use among Ugandan youth (14-17 years) with comorbid HIV and depression, taking into account their unique contextual, cultural, and developmental needs. This digital therapy intervention delivered via a mobile application, will utilize the core tenets of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) found to improve depression and ART adherence.
Description
Approximately 1.7 million children under 15 years old were living with HIV in 2020; and most new HIV infections (85%) occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). People living with HIV (PLHIV) often struggle with mental health comorbidities that lower their antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. However, 76% to 85% of PLHIV in SSA receive no treatment for serious mental health disorders, especially depression. Depression reduces ART adherence, which negatively impacts health and increases HIV transmission risks. Older adolescents (≥14 years) living with HIV are particularly vulnerable to these risk…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 14–17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 14-17 years * HIV positive and aware of their status i.e., disclosed to * Prescribed antiretroviral therapy * Living within a family, including with extended family members (not in institutions) * Health care providers who work with youth at participating clinics who agree to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * A significant cognitive impairment that interferes with the participant's understanding of the informed consent process, or inability/unwillingness to commit to completing the study
Interventions
- BehavioralSuubi-Mhealth
Suubi-Mhealth is a theoretically-based digital therapeutics tool that aims to provide educational content on depression while considering the unique needs of SSA youth living with HIV. This educational content will be aligned with scientific recommendations for cognitive-behavioral therapy for adherence and depression as applied to HIV medication adherence. Core instruction will include psychoeducation on the interplay between HIV and depression; minimizing cognitive distortions related to ART adherence and stigma, as well as depression; challenging negative automatic thoughts; analysis and development of behavioral skills; reducing environmental stressors. Suubi-Mhealth will also have a social networking center in which patients can contact the research team, peers who are also taking part in this intervention, and other trusted individuals such as loved ones. Other features include tools for setting and monitoring goals, and a clinical management dashboard for the research team.
Locations (2)
- Washington University in St. LouisSt Louis, Missouri
- International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD)Masaka