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Published in: Trials 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Care | Study protocol

CareConekta: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a mobile health intervention to improve engagement in postpartum HIV care in South Africa

Authors: Kate Clouse, Tamsin K. Phillips, Carol Camlin, Sandisiwe Noholoza, Phepo Mogoba, Julian Naidoo, Richard Langford, Martin Weiss, Christopher J. Seebregts, Landon Myer

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

South Africa is home to the world’s largest antiretroviral therapy program but sustaining engagement along the HIV care continuum has proven challenging in the country and throughout the wider region. Population mobility is common in South Africa, but there are important research gaps in describing this mobility and its impact on engagement in HIV care. Postpartum women and their infants in South Africa are known to be at high risk of dropping out of HIV care after delivery and are frequently mobile.

Methods

In 2017, we developed a beta version of a smartphone application (app) - CareConekta - that detects a user’s smartphone location to allow for prospective characterization of mobility. Now we will adapt and test CareConekta to conduct essential formative work on mobility and evaluate an intervention - the CareConekta app plus text notifications and phone calls and/or WhatsApp messages - to facilitate engagement in HIV care during times of mobility. During the 3-year project period, our first objective is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of using CareConekta as an intervention to improve engagement in HIV care. Our second objective is to characterize mobility among South African women during the peripartum period and its impact on engagement in HIV care. We will enroll 200 eligible pregnant women living with HIV and receiving care at the Gugulethu Midwife Obstetric Unit in Cape Town, South Africa.

Discussion

This work will provide critical information about mobility during the peripartum period and the impact on engagement in HIV care. Simultaneously, we will pilot test an intervention to improve engagement with rigorously assessed outcomes. If successful, CareConekta offers tremendous potential as a research and service tool that can be adapted and evaluated in multiple geographic regions, study contexts, and patient populations.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03836625. Registered on 8 February 2019.
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Metadata
Title
CareConekta: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a mobile health intervention to improve engagement in postpartum HIV care in South Africa
Authors
Kate Clouse
Tamsin K. Phillips
Carol Camlin
Sandisiwe Noholoza
Phepo Mogoba
Julian Naidoo
Richard Langford
Martin Weiss
Christopher J. Seebregts
Landon Myer
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-4190-x

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