Khuluma : using participatory, peer-led and digital methods to deliver psychosocial support to young people living with HIV in South Africa

dc.contributor.authorAtujuna, Millicent
dc.contributor.authorSimpson, Nikita
dc.contributor.authorNgobeni, Malebo
dc.contributor.authorMonese, Tebogo
dc.contributor.authorGiovenco, Danielle
dc.contributor.authorPike, Carey
dc.contributor.authorFigerova, Zuzana
dc.contributor.authorVisser, M.J. (Maretha Johanna)
dc.contributor.authorBiriotti, Maurice
dc.contributor.authorKydd, Anna
dc.contributor.authorBekker, Linda-Gail
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-11T12:33:12Z
dc.date.available2022-08-11T12:33:12Z
dc.date.issued2021-07
dc.description.abstractKhuluma is a psychosocial and peer-to-peer mHealth intervention that uses text messaging to facilitate support groups for adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) with the aim of contributing toward positive health outcomes. Although use of mobile technology in the form of mHealth interventions has proliferated recently in the field of health, published literature describing methods and processes of its application are limited. We present a set of methods and processes utilised to develop and pilot the Khuluma mHealth intervention amongst young people (15–20 years) in South Africa. We recruited and enrolled 52 adolescents (15–20-year olds) from four clinics in Pretoria and Cape Town to participate in a 6-month pilot of Khuluma. Participants were ALWH, aware of their status, on antiretroviral therapy for more than 12 months, and not suffering from severe depression. We conducted four pre and post intervention focus group discussions (FGDs) with a proportion of ALWH (n = 36) enrolled in the pilot study using participatory methods. Several processes were utilised to then implement this pilot study. These included engaging ALWH for minor study implementation modifications; forming virtual groups; activating the mHealth platform; facilitating and delivering the Khuluma intervention. The acceptability of the intervention was informed by follow-up focus group discussions and text message data. The initial participatory processes helped to tailor the intervention design to participants’ needs. The peer-led facilitation of the groups allowed for the provision of sensitive psychosocial support that allowed young people to express themselves freely, develop a sense of self-worth, and interact more. The nature of themobile technology also allowed participants to build friendships beyond their geographic area and interact with their peers in real time. Within the evolving context of COVID-19, establishing evidence-based processes and methods for intervention design and curation in virtual spaces is critical.en_US
dc.description.departmentPsychologyen_US
dc.description.librarianam2022en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipSHM Foundation. Text messages were donated by Vodacom SA.en_US
dc.description.urihttps://www.frontiersin.org/journals/reproductive-health#en_US
dc.identifier.citationAtujuna, M., Simpson, N., Ngobeni, M., Monese, T., Giovenco, D., Pike, C., Figerova, Z., Visser, M.J., Biriotti, M., Kydd, . & Bekker, L.-G. (2021) Khuluma: Using Participatory, Peer-Led and Digital Methods to Deliver Psychosocial Support to Young People Living With HIV in South Africa. Frontiers in Reproductive Health 3:687677. DOI: 10.3389/frph.2021.687677.en_US
dc.identifier.issn2673-3153 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.3389/frph.2021.687677
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/86763
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherFrontiers Research Foundationen_US
dc.rights© 2021 Atujuna, Simpson, Ngobeni, Monese, Giovenco, Pike, Figerova, Visser, Biriotti, Kydd and Bekker. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).en_US
dc.subjectmHealth interventionsen_US
dc.subjectMobile phoneen_US
dc.subjectPeer-to-peer supporten_US
dc.subjectAdolescentsen_US
dc.subjectSouth Africa (SA)en_US
dc.subjectAdolescents living with HIV (ALWH)en_US
dc.subjectHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)en_US
dc.titleKhuluma : using participatory, peer-led and digital methods to deliver psychosocial support to young people living with HIV in South Africaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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