An Online Support Group Intervention for Adolescents Living with HIV in Nigeria: A Pre-Post Test Study

• DOI: 10.2196/12397
• Publication Date: 2018-11-08T15:33:16Z
• Authors: Lisa Dulli; Kathleen Ridgeway; Catherine Packer; Kate F Plourde; Tolulope Mumuni; Tosin Idaboh; Adesola Olumide; Oladosu Ojengbede; Donna R McCarraher
• Keywords: Original Paper; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 4. Education; 1. No poverty; 10. No inequality; 16. Peace & justice; 3. Good health

Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIVs) enrolled in treatment services experience greater loss to follow-up and suboptimal adherence than other age groups. HIV-related stigma, disclosure-related issues, lack of social support, limited knowledge impede antiretroviral therapy (ART) retention services. The 90-90-90 goals for ALHIVs will only be met through strategies targeted meet their specific needs.We aimed evaluate the feasibility implementing a media-based intervention improve knowledge, ART adherence, among ALHIV aged 15-19 years on Nigeria.We conducted single-group pre-post test study from June 2017 January 2018. We adapted an existing support group curriculum delivered it trained facilitators 5 groups by using Facebook This pilot included five 1-week sessions. structured interviews participants before after intervention, extracted clinical data, documented implementation participation. In-depth were subset at completion. Quantitative data participation summarized descriptively, qualitative coded summarized.A total 41 study. At baseline, 93% reported phone access; 65% used internet, 64% users. In addition, 37 completed 5-session 32 actively posted comments least one session online, half commented each Facilitators most sessions as intended on-time. Participants enthusiastic about intervention. Aspects liked interacting ALHIVs; learning HIV; sharing questions, experiences, fears. key recommendations include larger encourage more interaction. Specific various components made intervention.This novel was feasible implement predominantly suburban rural Nigerian setting. Social media may leveraged provide much-needed information platforms accessible familiar many people, even resource-constrained communities. Our findings have been incorporated into outcome is underway.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03076996; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03076996 (Archived WebCite http://www.webcitation.org/73oCCEBBC).