Youth Power Action Feasibility Study of Online Support Group Intervention Among Adolescents Living With HIV in Nigeria

Youth Power Action Feasibility Study of Online Support Group Intervention Among Adolescents Living With HIV in Nigeria

This study will examine the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention designed to improve retention in HIV care services and improve anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence among adolescents ages 15-19 years living with HIV enrolled in ART services.

Study aim is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention designed to improve retention in HIV care services and improve anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence among adolescents ages 15-19 years living with HIV enrolled in ART services.

A single group, pre/posttest design including structured questionnaires with adolescents living with HIV. Additionally, we will abstract clinical data from the medical record system. We will also conduct in-depth interviews with a subset of participants, as well as health care staff who are engaged in the intervention, at endline.

The objectives of this study are:

1. To examine the feasibility of implementing a mobile/electronic health (m/eHealth) intervention designed to improve retention in HIV care services and ART adherence among ALHIV ages 15-19 years through an online support group (using Facebook).
2. To assess acceptability of and engagement in the intervention by the target audience to inform improvements to the intervention.
3. To gather preliminary data on the psycho-social and health-related outcomes that the intervention is designed to affect to inform an outcome evaluation study that will be conducted following the conclusion of the feasibility study.
4. To collect information on recruitment, informed consent and data collection processes to inform the outcome evaluation study of the current intervention that will be conducted once findings from this feasibility study are incorporated into the intervention design.

Inclusion Criteria:

• HIV positive and currently on ART for at least 6 months
• Age 15 to 19 years
• Can demonstrate basic literacy necessary to participate in online chats

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not planning to remain in the study area (within Akwa Ibom State) for the duration of the study (approximately 6 months)
• Currently enrolled in an in-person support group
• Currently enrolled in another research study related to HIV service retention or ART adherence
• Critically or severely ill requiring hospitalization or such that the individual is unable to provide informed consent at the time of study recruitment