Researchers launch major review to determine if cultural adaptation is the missing key to HIV app success.


 A new protocol outlines an ambitious scoping review aimed at solving a persistent puzzle in HIV prevention: why mobile health tools often fail to drive real-world adherence. The review focuses on "non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis" (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) across Sub-Saharan Africa. While apps and SMS reminders are widely deployed, uptake of these preventative treatments remains inconsistent.

The researchers hypothesize that "utility" isn't enough; the missing link may be trust and cultural fit. This upcoming study will map existing evidence to see if interventions that were specifically adapted to local privacy norms and cultural beliefs performed better than generic tools. The findings are expected to guide the next generation of HIV apps, moving developers away from "copy-paste" solutions toward platforms that genuinely resonate with high-risk populations.

Read the original article at: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/15/12/e103326?rss=1

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to stay up to date with what's new in healthcare all around the world.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ghana's "Lightwave" system creates paperless hospitals, reducing wait times and digitizing patient records

Image
Ghana is undergoing a massive healthcare transformation with the rollout of the "Lightwave" Health Information Management System (LHIMS). This digital platform is replacing the chaotic, paper-based folders of the past with a streamlined, fully electronic system. In participating hospitals, patient records are now digital, meaning doctors can access a patient's full medical history instantly with a few clicks. This eliminates the frustration of lost folders and significantly speeds up the consultation process. The impact on efficiency has been dramatic. Patients no longer spend hours waiting for physical files to be retrieved, reducing overall wait times in outpatient departments. Beyond convenience, the system improves patient safety by ensuring that critical information, like allergies and past prescriptions, is always available to the treating physician. This shift towards paperless hospitals marks a major step forward for Ghana’s public health infrastructure, making ca...
Read more

Africa Health Insights: 20th November - 26th November' 2025

Image
  Kenya launches mobile clinic network to bring care to remote communities Kenya is expanding healthcare access through a nationwide Mobile Clinic network. This initiative is designed to deliver essential medical services directly to remote, displaced, or marginalized communities that lack permanent infrastructure. By establishing temporary service points, the mobile clinics are crucial for bridging geographical barriers and ensuring continuity of care, especially in regions with poor road networks or humanitarian crises. The program emphasizes quality of care and data-driven operations. Health partners utilize a shared Mobile Clinic Quality of Care Toolkit, built on 24 evidence-based markers, to standardize and monitor service quality. The integration of advanced mHealth platforms, such as the M-Pesa payment system and remote monitoring, ensures that care is both accessible and equitable. Read the original article at https://allafrica.com/stories/202510220043.html Digital innova...
Read more

NGO urges sustainable emergency-operation centres in Nigeria’s PHCs

Image
The non-profit organization eHealth Africa (eHA) is strongly advocating for the long-term sustainability and local ownership of Public Health Emergency Operation Centers (PHEOCs) and associated digital infrastructure in Nigeria's Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs). While many PHEOCs were established with donor funding, particularly during the polio and COVID-19 responses, only a fraction remain fully functional due to issues like reliance on donor funding and maintenance failures. The NGO emphasizes that PHEOCs should be integrated as permanent public health command structures within PHC facilities, rather than viewed as temporary, donor-driven projects. Key to this sustainability is the adoption of renewable energy (solarization) to power critical ICT systems and the integration of climate-resilient digital solutions . eHA's own initiatives show the massive impact of solarization, leading to a surge in patients accessing PHCs and enabling 24/7 services like night deliverie...
Read more