Effectiveness, Acceptability and Feasibility of Technology-Enabled Health Interventions for Adolescents Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Talitha Crowley, Charné Petinger, Azia Ivo Nchendia and Brian van Wyk
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Talitha Crowley: School of Nursing, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
Charné Petinger: School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
Azia Ivo Nchendia: School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
Brian van Wyk: School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: Background: Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are challenged to remain adherent and engaged in HIV care. Technology-enabled interventions can be used to optimize healthcare delivery to adolescents. The largest proportion of ALHIV resides in sub-Saharan Africa. This review synthesized the evidence for the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of technology-enabled health interventions for ALHIV in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Methods: Eight electronic databases (Ebscohost, CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE, PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct, and Sabinet) and Google Scholar were searched to identify studies in LMIC published from 2010 to 2022. Quantitative and qualitative studies reporting on technology-enabled health interventions for predominantly adolescents (10–19 years) were included. The review was performed, and findings were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Protocols. The review was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42022336330. Results: There is weak evidence that technology-enabled health interventions for ALHIV in LMIC improve treatment outcomes. However, most interventions appear to be acceptable and feasible. Conclusion: There is a need to ensure that technology-enabled interventions have a strong theoretical base. Larger studies with rigorous evaluation designs are needed to determine the effects of these interventions on the health outcomes of ALHIV in LMIC.

Keywords: acceptability; adolescents; HIV; technology; low- and middle-income countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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