The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Mobile Applications for HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study

Jackson Jr Nforbewing Ndenkeh; LaRon E Nelson; Ange Bogning; Habakkuk Yumo; Georges Bediang; Earnest Njih; Durand Fotso; Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba'are; Charles Kouanfack; Zhao Ni

doi:10.1097/JNC.0000000000000469

The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Mobile Applications for HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study

J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2024 Apr 3;35(3):210-221. doi: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000469. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jackson Jr Nforbewing Ndenkeh^{1

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10}, Georges Bediang^{1

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10}, Durand Fotso^{1

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10}, Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba'are^{1

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10}, Zhao Ni^{1

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Affiliations

¹ Jackson Jr Nforbewing Ndenkeh, MPH, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Associate, School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
² LaRon E. Nelson, PhD, RN, FNP, FNAP, FNYAM, FAAN, is an Independence Foundation Professor, School of Nursing and Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
³ Ange Bogning, MPH, is a Postgraduate, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
⁴ Habakkuk Yumo, MD, PhD, is a Co-Founder, Research for Development (R4D) International, Yaounde, Cameroon & a Consultant, Transatlantic Health Solutions LLC, Texas, USA.
⁵ Georges Bediang, MD, PhD, MPH, is a Research Affiliate, Research for Development (R4D) International, Yaounde, Cameroon & a Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
⁶ Earnest Njih, MD, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
⁷ Durand Fotso, MD, MPH, is a Postgraduate, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
⁸ Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba'are, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
⁹ Charles Kouanfack, PhD, is a Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
¹⁰ Zhao Ni, BMed, PhD, RN, FAAN, is an Assistant Professor, School of Nursing and Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Abstract

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are vulnerable populations to HIV/AIDS. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 637 AGYW in Cameroon to study the feasibility and willingness to use mobile applications (apps) for HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. We found that phone ownership is high among AGYW, where 93.9% ( n = 598) of them (median age: 22 years, interquartile range: 21-24 years) had access to a smartphone, 49.5% ( n = 315) frequently searched for health information, and 48.9% ( n = 312) frequently used health-related apps. AGYW's willingness to use mobile apps for HIV testing, prevention, and treatment were 87.9% ( n = 560), 84.4% ( n = 538), and 84.9% ( n = 541), respectively. The high willingness to use apps was associated with older age, HIV testing, and searching for health information on a phone. Barriers to willingness included having no internet access, concerns about internet cost and privacy, and lack of consistent access to a smartphone.