The effect of a mobile health application on enhancing adherence on ART among adolescents and young adults living with HIV: A Pilot Study in Fako Division, South West Region, Cameroon

Abstract

Abstract Background Despite advancements in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), adherence remains a challenge, particularly within younger populations. Considering that Adhering to lifelong ART treatment can often be challenging, this pilot study investigated the effect of mHealth application on adherence to ART among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in the Fako Division of Cameroon. Methods The study used a quasi-experimental design in which participants from selected treatment centers were proposed a mobile application to facilitate their adherence on treatment. Adherence measurements were taken before and after the intervention to assess the mobile application’s effectiveness. Adherence was measured using self-reports, pill counts, and viral load assessments. Results The study recruited 129 individuals, with more participants coming from Regional Hospital Limbe 49 (38.0%) and Regional Hospital Buea 47 (36.4%). Comparing adherence levels at baseline and end line, the most significant improvement was seen in pill count adherence, which rose from 56.8% to 79.1% (p<0.01). Increases in self-reported adherence and combined methods were also significant, with p-values of 0.003 and p<0.01, respectively. Viral suppression increased from 76.7% to 80.6%, but this change was not statistically significant (p=0.063). Conclusion The study’s findings indicate that the mHealth app effectively improves adherence to ART among adolescents and young adults, with significant increases observed after six months of use. This pilot study highlights the app’s potential to enhance care. However, further research with a larger sample size, longer duration, and a control group is recommended as next steps to assess the application’s impact on care.