The Implementation of a GPS-Based Location-Tracking Smartphone App in South Africa to Improve Engagement in HIV Care: Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mobile health interventions are common in public health settings in Africa, and our preliminary work showed that smartphones are increasing in South Africa. We developed a novel smartphone app-CareConekta-that used GPS location data to characterize personal mobility to improve engagement in HIV care among pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV in South Africa. The app also used the user's location to map nearby clinics.

Objective

We aimed to describe the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of using the app in a real-world setting.

Methods

We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial at a public sector clinic near Cape Town, South Africa. We enrolled 200 pregnant (third trimester) women living with HIV who owned a smartphone tha

SUBMITTER: Clouse K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10238954 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature